Jake Haro cries in court after pleading guilty to all charges, including second-degree murder of his 7-month-old son, Emmanuel, at the Riverside Hall of Justice in Riverside, Calif., on Thursday, Oct 16, 2025. (Will Lester/The Orange County Register via AP, Pool)
A Southern California father who pleaded guilty to killing his missing 7-month-old son was sentenced Monday to more than 30 years in prison.
Jake Haro, 32, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty last month to the second-degree murder of his son, Emmanuel, the Riverside County District Attorney’s office said in a statement. A monthslong investigation has failed to locate the child’s remains.
Haro and his wife, Rebecca, had reported the baby was kidnapped outside a store in Southern California in August, saying Rebecca Haro was attacked and left unconscious while changing the boy’s diaper. The case drew widespread attention as authorities and members of the public fanned out to search for the boy.
The couple were arrested a little more than a week later at their home in the desert community of Cabazon, some 20 miles west of Palm Springs, after Rebecca Haro was confronted about inconsistencies in their account.
Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gary Polk sentenced Haro to seven years and two months in prison for a probation violation and other charges, then 25 years to life for assault on a child under age 8, according to the Press-Enterprise. The sentences will run consecutively.
Haro was also ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution.
Rebecca Haro, 41, has pleaded not guilty and is being held on $1 million bail. She is due to appear in court in January.
Riverside County prosecutors asked for Jake Haro to be sentenced to 31 years to life in prison for killing Emmanuel and for assaulting another child in 2018. Haro pleaded guilty to child endangerment for causing severe and lasting injuries to his then-10-month-old daughter and was given a 6-year suspended prison term that prosecutors said should now be applied.
“Jake Haro murdered seven-month-old Emmanuel but, in reality, he comes before this court having taken the lives of two young children. If there are lower forms of evil in this world, I am not aware of them,” Brandon Smith, assistant district attorney in Riverside County, wrote in court filings.
A message seeking comment was sent to Jake Haro’s attorney, Allison Lowe.
The same bacteria that led to the 2022 baby formula recall and sparked shortages across the U.S., this year has caused the death of one newborn in Kentucky and brain damage in a Missouri infant, according to federal health officials.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials confirmed Thursday that two cases of life-threatening infections caused by Cronobacter sakazakii have been reported in 2023, both babies who consumed powdered formula made by Abbott Nutrition, the company involved in the 2022 recall. For the reported cases this year, both Abbott and the FDA have found no link to the formula maker’s facilities, saying contamination likely happened after the containers were opened at home.
In February 2022, Abbott initiated a voluntary recall of its powder baby formulas for brands including Similac, Alimentum and EleCare that were manufactured at one of the company’s facilities in Sturgis, Michigan. The recall was due to the presence of Cronobacter sakazakii, which is a rare bacteria that the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) said has been found in powdered infant formula, skimmed milk powder, herbal teas and starches, and is “lethal for infants and can be serious among people with immunocompromising conditions and the elderly.”
The FDA said on Thursday that there was no reason to issue new recalls for baby formula after an investigation found, despite two infants becoming infected by the bacteria this year, there was no evidence that the infections were linked to manufacturing, the Associated Press reported.
“There is no indication of a broader public health concern related to this product at this time,” the FDA said in a statement.
Newsweek reached out via email on Saturday to the FDA and CDC for comment.
A photo of powdered baby formula. The FDA and CDC confirmed on December 7, 2023, that two cases of dangerous infections caused by cronobacter sakazakii have been reported this year, both in babies who consumed powdered formula made by Abbott Nutrition. Getty
In March, then 6-week-old Mira White, of Sikeston, Missouri, was diagnosed with a serious brain infection caused by the bacteria, which was found in an open container of Similac NeoSure formula in the baby’s home, according to the AP.
Mira’s mom told the AP that since her daughter became infected, she has suffered numerous seizures and said that brain scans show neurological damage caused by the infection.
In Kentucky, health officials notified the CDC in November that a baby who consumed Similac Total Comfort powdered formula had died after being infected with Cronobacter sakazakii, according to the AP.
John Koval, a spokesperson for Abbott, told Newsweek in an email on Saturday night that the reported infections in Missouri and Kentucky have not been linked to the company’s manufacturing facilities.
“As Abbott and FDA have said, the unopened product was tested and came back negative, and the infections have not been linked to the manufacturing environment,” Koval said. “Cronobacter is naturally and commonly found in the environment, and can find its way into infant formula after the packaging is opened. We encourage parents and caregivers to consult resources published by the FDA and CDC on how to safely handle, store and prepare infant formula.”
What is Cronobacter sakazakii?
Cronobacter sakazakii is a germ found naturally in the environment and can live in dry foods, including powdered infant formula and powdered milk, according to the CDC.
The CDC notes that powdered formula is not sterile, meaning it could become accidentally contaminated during the manufacturing process or after the container is opened at home.
Cronobacter sakazakii can live on surfaces, such as kitchen counters or sinks, and in water, according to the CDC.
Frequently and thoroughly cleaning surfaces, hands and baby products help reduce the risk. The CDC also advises parents to avoid setting formula scoops on the counter or in the sink, to keep lids and scoops clean and completely dry, and close containers of formula as soon as possible after using them.
What is the risk?
While the CDC states that Cronobacter infections are rare, they can be life-threatening in newborns. Serious infections in babies usually occur in the first few weeks of life.
Yearly, between two to four cases are reported to the CDC, which adds that this figure may not reflect the true number of illnesses because most hospitals and laboratories are not required to report Cronobacter infections to health departments.
Infants who are born prematurely and babies with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop serious symptoms if infected.
Signs of Cronobacterillness in babies usually start with a fever and poor feeding, excessive crying, or very low energy, according to the CDC, which warns that some infants may also have seizures. An infant with these symptoms should be seen by a medical provider as soon as possible.
Cronobacter germs can lead to sepsis, a dangerous blood infection, and cause the lining surrounding the brain and spinal cord to swell, also known as meningitis. Babies younger than two months are most at risk for developing meningitis if they get sick from Cronobacter.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
A U.S. Army wife has been charged with murder after she killed her 11-month-old son at their home on a Georgia military base, saying she wanted to send the baby to “be with Jesus and God,” authorities said.
April Evalyn Short, 30, of Fort Eisenhower, Georgia, has been charged by federal complaint with murder, with an aggravating circumstance of the alleged crime occurring during an act of child abuse, according to a statement by Jill E. Steinberg, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Officials at Fort Eisenhower said in an online statement that the victim was the son of April Short and her husband, Staff Sergeant James Short. The couple’s two other children, ages 6 and 11, were home when their little brother was killed on Wednesday, authorities said.
April Short used a knife to cut the neck of her 11-month-old baby, who was rushed to Eisenhower Army Medical Center but unable to be saved, according to Steinberg.
April Evalyn Short, 30, of Fort Eisenhower, Georgia, is charged with murder after authorities said she cut her 11-month-old son’s neck, according to Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Jefferson County Detention Center
Newsweek reached out via phone on Saturday night to representatives for Fort Eisenhower and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for comment. It was unclear at the time of publication if April Short had an attorney who could speak on her behalf.
Around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, James Short was on duty when he received a text message from his wife that caused him to become worried for the well-being of his children, according to the criminal complaint obtained by local media outlets The Augusta Press and WJBF.
The concerning message made references to God and said, “The days of darkness are upon us,” prompting him to call his wife who did not pick up, the criminal complaint states.
James Short returned home and found his wife barricaded in their primary bedroom with the baby and two other children. When he was unable to get into the adjoining primary bathroom, he called 911.
Officers with the Military Police and Department of the Army Civilian Police (DACP) arrived and were able to coax April Short out of the house but as police tried to detain her, she initially attempted to flee, the court documents state.
Authorities did not say if the two other children had suffered any injuries, but the criminal complaint states that April Short threatened to cut the 6-year-old girl if she didn’t stop crying.
When April Short was apprehended, James Short realized that his wife did not have their infant son with her, according to the criminal complaint. Around 9 a.m., he found the baby boy wrapped in a plastic shower curtain in the bathroom where he was bleeding from apparent neck wounds.
When FBI agents interviewed the older children, the 6-year-old said that her mother got knives and said she “was going to help” her little brother “be with Jesus and God.” April Short also told the children, “Don’t come into the bathroom because it might be really scary,” according to the court documents.
During an interview with investigators, April Short admitted to wrapping the infant in a shower curtain inside the bathtub and using a knife to cut his neck, saying that she knew what she did was “wrong” and “evil.”
While April Short made an initial court appearance on Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian K. Epps, she has not yet entered a plea, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
She’s been ordered by the court to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
“There is reasonable cause to believe [April Short] may suffer from a mental disease or defect rendering her mentally incompetent to the extent she is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against her or to assist properly in her defense,” the court order states.
April Short is currently in the custody of U.S. Marshals and is being held at Jefferson County Detention Center to await further proceedings.
The case is being investigated by the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry W. Syms Jr. and Patricia G. Rhodes.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
As newborns perish at besieged Al-Shifa, the largest hospital in Gaza, human rights organizations are urging U.S. President Joe Biden to “intervene” and demanding that Israel cease its attacks in the territory.
Health officials in Gaza say Israel has laid siege to Shifa, making the hospital a deathtrap for the thousands of healthcare workers, patients and displaced people inside. While Israel has carried out airstrikes on the territory since the unprecedented October 7 attack by Hamas, Israeli officials have denied attacking the hospital, which has been left without electricity and vital supplies.
The hospital’s last generator ran out of fuel on Saturday, leading to the deaths of three premature babies and four other patients, the Associated Press reports, citing the Hamas-run Health Ministry
The Health Ministry said another 36 newborns are at risk of dying and that there are 1,500 patients at Shifa, 1,500 medical personnel, and more than 15,000 people seeking shelter at the hospital.
Al-Shifa Hospital director Muhammad Abu Salmiya told Al Jazeera on Saturday that “medical devices stopped” and “patients, especially those in intensive care, started to die.”
The hospital director also said that Israeli troops were “shooting at anyone outside or inside the hospital.”
Pictured is a newborn infant receiving care inside an incubator at a neonatal intensive care unit at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on September 29, 2022. Health officials in Gaza say Israel has laid siege to the hospital and blocked crucial supplies. As a result, officials said three premature babies had died after the hospital’s last generator ran out of fuel on November 11, 2023, while another 36 babies were at risk of dying because there was no electricity. MOHAMMED ABED / AFP/Getty
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Sunday in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that Al-Shifa “is not functioning as a hospital anymore.”
A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told Newsweek in a statement on Sunday that IDF placed 300 liters (79 gallons) of fuel near Shifa Hospital overnight for an emergency generator powering incubators for premature babies as well as “other urgent medical use.” However, the military blamed Hamas and said the militant group prevented the hospital from receiving the fuel.
Israeli officials have claimed that Hamas operates its command headquarters underneath the Shifa Hospital complex. The Israeli military released an illustrated map of the hospital with alleged locations of underground militant installations, without providing additional evidence to support the claims. Hamas and hospital staff have denied these claims, according to the Associated Press.
IDF told Newsweek that forces are engaged in “intense battles” near the hospital, but said that, “Unlike Hamas, the IDF is taking all feasible measures under operational circumstances to mitigate harm to civilians.”
IDF said a humanitarian corridor has been established to allow people to evacuate from the hospital south of Wadi Aza, through the streets of Al Wahada and Salah al-din.
As the fighting near the complex wages on, advocacy groups say it inhibits civilians from being able to safely flee and puts those who can’t in mortal danger. Numerous people and organizations took to social media to demand a ceasefire.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, demanded that the Biden administration “urgently intervene to stop the Israeli government’s ongoing siege of Al Shifa Hospital.”
CAIR said in a statement on Saturday that if the White House allows the Israeli government to “murder” newborn babies there will be “no coming back.”
“The Biden administration must intervene right now, right this minute, to stop the unfolding crime against humanity at the largest hospital in Gaza,” the statement reads. “Besieging a hospital, using snipers to murder fleeing families, and cutting off resources needed to keep newborn babies alive is beyond the pale, even for Netanyahu’s openly racist, genocidal Israeli government. If the White House allows the Israeli government to murder these newborns, other patients and their doctors, there will be no coming back for this administration’s standing within our nation and around the world.”
Newsweek reached out via email on Sunday to representatives for CAIR and Biden.
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), a UK-based nonprofit that works with Palestinian communities to help “uphold their rights to health and dignity,” joined the call for a ceasefire on Sunday, saying that is the only option to save the three-dozen premature and critically ill neonates at Al-Shifa.
MAP’s Chief Executive Officer Melanie Ward said on Sunday in a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, that babies in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit are dying from lack of oxygen as Al-Shifa has no electricity or fuel to run generators.
Ward warned that more newborns at that facility will die soon unless power is restored.
“The only safe option to save these babies would be for Israel to cease its assault and besiegement of Al Shifa, to allow fuel to reach the hospital, and to ensure that the surviving parents of these babies can be reunited with them,” Ward said.
In a subsequent post, Ward expressed concerns over the Israeli government’s plan to move the babies to a “safer” hospital.
“We are deeply concerned by uncritical media reporting regarding the Israeli military’s statement that it will help move premature babies trapped at the hospital to a ‘safer hospital,’” Ward said in a post, which contained a photo of rubble-filled roadways and heavily damaged buildings.
“We are deeply concerned by uncritical media reporting regarding the Israeli military’s statement that it will help move premature babies trapped at the hospital to a “safer hospital”.” (3/6)https://t.co/Y68zKMawsy
She said with ambulances unable to reach Al-Shifa and no nearby hospitals able to accept an influx of patients, there is “no indication” of a way to safely transport the newborns.
“It is imperative that the international community demands a #CeasefireNOW, allowing the hospital to operate safely,” Ward said in a follow-up post. “We say again international law must be upheld. The life of every patient, health worker and displaced person in Shifa is precious and must be protected.”
Newsweek reached out via email on Sunday night to MAP for comment.
Ghebreyesus also joined the calls on social media for an immediate ceasefire. In a post on X, he said that WHO officials have been in contact with Shifa Hospital staff, who described the situation as “dire and perilous.”
“It’s been 3 days without electricity, without water and with very poor internet which has severely impacted our ability to provide essential care,” the director general said in the post. “The constant gunfire and bombings in the area have exacerbated the already critical circumstances. Tragically, the number of patient fatalities has increased significantly. Regrettably, the hospital is not functioning as a hospital anymore. The world cannot stand silent while hospitals, which should be safe havens, are transformed into scenes of death, devastation, and despair. Ceasefire. NOW.”
.@WHO has managed to get in touch with health professionals at the Al-Shifa hospital in #Gaza.
The situation is dire and perilous.
It’s been 3 days without electricity, without water and with very poor internet which has severely impacted our ability to provide essential…
In a televised address over the weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected growing international calls for a ceasefire without the release of the estimated 240 hostages taken by Hamas in the October 7 attack that sparked the unrest.
Israel has said its goal is to crush Hamas and will pursue militant fighters wherever they are. Experts and rights groups have accused Israel of committing war crimes, including genocide.
Israel has come under mounting international pressure over the plight of civilians in Gaza, where roughly 2.3 million Palestinians are trapped, half of them children. The Israeli government also cut off the supply of food, medicine, water, and electricity in Gaza, igniting a wave of criticism.
As of Sunday, the Gaza Health Ministry says more than 11,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, while about 2,700 have been reported missing or thought to be trapped or dead under rubble, The Associated Press reported.
On the Israeli side, at least 1,200 people have been killed, most of them in the Hamas attack last month, the AP reported, adding that 46 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the military’s ground offensive.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
