In a shocking turn in a case that has riveted Southern California, Jake Haro, the father of 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro, tearfully pled guilty Thursday in a Riverside courtroom to second-degree murder, as well as to charges of assault causing bodily harm to a child and filing a false police report. ’s dramatic claim that Emmanuel had been kidnapped during an attack in a parking lot was met with deep skepticism by investigators. Over the course of the investigation, authorities uncovered inconsistencies in the parents’ narrative and ultimately concluded that the child had died from abuse, not abduction.

During the proceedings, Haro’s guilty pleas were entered directly to the court, rather than as part of a negotiated plea agreement with the district attorney’s office.  The judge will determine Haro’s sentence at a hearing scheduled for November 3, when he could face 25 years to life in prison.

As for Rebecca Haro, she continues to plead not guilty to an amended criminal complaint, and her case remains pending. Meanwhile, the search for Emmanuel’s remains, which have not been recovered, continues as authorities and the community still grapple with how such a tragedy could unfold.