Jake Haro, the father of 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro who vanished from a Yucaipa parking lot in August, pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder in his son’s death, marking a stunning reversal that leaves the infant’s remains unrecovered and his mother facing trial.

Haro, 32, appeared emotional in Riverside County Superior Court, tears streaming as he entered pleas of guilty to murder with malice aforethought, assault on a child resulting in death, and filing a false police report—a misdemeanor. The admissions came nearly two months after Emmanuel was reported missing on Aug. 14, when his mother, Rebecca Haro, 41, claimed an attacker knocked her unconscious while she changed the baby’s diaper outside a Big 5 Sporting Goods store on Yucaipa Boulevard. Prosecutors described the incident as a fabricated kidnapping, with evidence pointing to foul play within the family. Haro’s sentencing is set for Nov. 3, where he faces 15 years to life in prison, plus enhancements for the child’s vulnerability.

The case exploded into the national spotlight after Rebecca Haro’s frantic 911 call around 7:47 p.m. that evening. She alleged a man approached her truck, greeted her with “Hola,” and struck her from behind, leaving her with a black eye and no memory of the assault. When she awoke, Emmanuel—described as 24 inches tall, 21 pounds, with brown hair and eyes, last seen in a black Nike onesie—was gone. “I checked all around my truck… I ran into Big 5 and asked if anyone saw a baby,” she told KTLA in the days following, her voice breaking as she pleaded for his return. Jake Haro echoed the desperation in media interviews: “Whoever took my son, please return him… Keep him safe, don’t hurt him.”

But cracks appeared swiftly. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, leading the probe, noted “inconsistencies” in Rebecca’s account during initial interviews. Confronted, she abruptly ended the session and declined further cooperation, including a requested polygraph test—though her attorney later clarified she was assisting but refused the lie detector without counsel. Jake, too, demurred on the polygraph, citing the need for a lawyer. Investigators, unable to locate surveillance footage from the lot or nearby businesses, expanded searches across Yucaipa’s wooded areas, the Haros’ Cabazon home 40 miles away, and remote fields off the 60 Freeway in Moreno Valley. Cadaver dogs swept the properties, but yielded nothing conclusive.

By Aug. 22, the tone shifted dramatically. Deputies arrested both parents at their Cabazon residence on suspicion of murder, announcing Emmanuel was presumed dead and the kidnapping staged. “Based on the evidence, investigators determined a kidnapping in Yucaipa did not occur,” the department stated, emphasizing the search for remains continued. Court records unsealed later revealed Jake’s damning history: a 2023 felony conviction for willful child cruelty in Riverside County, stemming from a 2018 arrest in Hemet where he endangered a young child, resulting in brain damage. He served 180 days in jail, followed by 48 months’ probation and a 72-month suspended sentence. Additional charges included a 2024 felon-in-possession-of-a-firearm case, for which he was acquitted. “He’s not hiding from his record; it’s public,” his attorney, Vincent Hughes, told CBS News at the time, insisting Jake had no role in Emmanuel’s disappearance.

Rebecca’s background added layers of scrutiny. Represented by Jeff Moore—the same lawyer who defended Louise Turpin in the infamous Perris torture case—she maintained innocence, tearfully telling reporters, “We just want him back.” Yet, post-arrest affidavits painted a volatile home: The couple, married two years and blending families with five other children, faced mutual accusations. Riverside County Child Protective Services removed their 2-year-old from the home days after the report, citing safety concerns under state confidentiality laws. An independent missing children’s group withdrew a $10,000 reward and halted volunteer searches, citing parental inconsistencies.

Public outrage boiled over on social media. X (formerly Twitter) erupted with #FindEmmanuelHaro, amassing over 500,000 impressions in the first week. Posts dissected Rebecca’s black eye—”Not fresh, looks self-inflicted,” one viral thread claimed, garnering 1,700 likes—and Jake’s probation status, questioning how a convicted abuser retained custody. “How was he around another baby?” fumed user @JLRINVESTIGATES, whose gonzo-style breakdowns drew 800 retweets. True crime podcaster @defense_diaries compiled Rebecca’s statements, warning against premature judgment but noting the “bizarre” abduction narrative. Citizen journalists like @SF_investigates highlighted Jake’s ongoing firearm trial, amplifying calls for swift justice.

The August arrests thrust the family into a media frenzy. Footage captured deputies swarming the Cabazon home, seizing Jake’s truck for forensic analysis—later revealed to contain traces of blood inconsistent with the kidnapping claim. Searches extended to Kern County on unverified sightings, but tips led nowhere. By September, both parents pleaded not guilty to murder, child endangerment, and false reporting charges. Rebecca’s preliminary hearing was slated for Nov. 3, mirroring Jake’s sentencing date. Prosecutors alleged the couple’s blame-shifting masked a fatal altercation, though details remained sealed to protect the probe.

Thursday’s plea shattered the stalemate. Jake, in a red jail jumpsuit, stared ahead as Judge Brian Cosgrove accepted the deal, which prosecutors described as cooperation-driven but silent on Emmanuel’s location. “This is a tragic end to a preventable horror,” District Attorney Michael Hestrin said in a statement, vowing to pursue Rebecca aggressively. Her attorney, Moore, maintained her not guilty plea, calling the evidence “circumstantial at best” and hinting at a defense of coercion. Rebecca, hoarse and red-eyed in court, offered no comment.

Legal experts see the plea as a tactical pivot. “Jake’s guilty admissions could pressure Rebecca—testimony for leniency,” noted retired FBI profiler Bobby Chacon on Court TV, where the case featured prominently. Yet, the missing body looms large. “No remains means no closure,” Chacon added, echoing sentiments from grief counselors who decry the “prolonged agony” for extended family. Emmanuel’s grandmother, speaking anonymously to the Los Angeles Times, expressed devastation: “We prayed for a miracle, but this… it’s evil.”

The probe’s scope underscores systemic gaps. Jake’s 2023 conviction barred him from unsupervised child contact, yet probation oversight faltered. Riverside County officials faced backlash for not intervening sooner, especially after the 2-year-old’s removal. Nationally, the case mirrors horrors like the 2018 Turpin saga—Moore’s prior client—highlighting abuse’s generational cycle. Child welfare advocates, citing a 20 percent rise in U.S. filicide cases per the CDC, demand stricter monitoring.

Community vigils persist. On Aug. 18, Yucaipa residents lit candles outside Big 5, chanting “Justice for Emmanuel.” Recent X posts, like @ABC’s coverage of the plea, drew 64,000 views and 75 likes, blending sorrow with fury: “Death penalty now.” @NewsNation reported 4,000 engagements, underscoring the saga’s grip.

As November approaches, questions linger: Where is Emmanuel? Will Rebecca’s trial unearth truths? For now, the Haros’ Cabazon home stands empty, a stark reminder of innocence lost. Hestrin’s office urges tips via 909-387-8313 or Crime Stoppers. In a statement, they affirmed: “This guilty plea is justice’s first step—but recovery is paramount.” For a family fractured and a nation watching, the search endures, a haunting quest for a baby’s final peace.