Centennial High School in Peoria, Arizona, which serves about 2,000 students in grades nine through 12, is under scrutiny for having not one, but two, female teachers being investigated for grooming the same male student. The school, which is part of Peoria Unified School District, is located 20 miles outside of Phoenix.
Centennial High School in Peoria, Arizona. Photo from Homes.com.
The teachers, Angela Burlaka, 49, and Haley Beck, 27, were terminated and deemed ineligible for rehire at Centennial High School, but neither of them have been arrested or charged (yet). Burlaka worked there for 26 years and was the current director of Cooperative Education and Beck began her employment in 2020.
The investigation began when a male student showed his grandmother a video on his phone of Burlaka masturbating in the shower. Identifying tattoos were visible in the video that were ultimately used to positively identify Burlaka. The grandmother called police to report the incident.
Around the same time, Peoria police received a tip from a former Centennial High School student about suspicions regarding Haley Beck, another teacher, and an inappropriate relationship with a male student—who happened to be thesamestudent.
When police spoke with Scott Hollabaugh, principal of Centennial High School, to follow up on both allegations, they learned he also received complaints about an inappropriate relationship between the victim and Beck. Despite knowledge of possible misconduct, Hollabaugh did not issue a report on Beck.
Both teachers were placed on administrative leave in August 2025. Burlaka ultimately surrendered her teaching certificates and Beck was terminated. Peoria police submitted charges for Burlaka and Beck to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in February 2026, which were returned for further investigation and resubmitted on April 8, 2026. The recommended charges are as follows:
Burlaka: one count of furnishing obscene material to a minor, a class 4 felony punishable by more than three years in prison, fines and possible probation
Beck: one count of pandering, or inducing another to engage in prostitution, a class 5 felony punishable by up to 2.5 years in prison and fines of up to $150,000
Haley Beck
The victim was 18 when the investigation began, but he was groomed by both teachers when he was still a minor. Burlaka began communicating inappropriately with the victim when he was 16. Burlaka was not his teacher and it is is unknown as to how the communications began. Beck began grooming the victim during the 2023-2024 academic year, when he was a sophomore, and continued doing so until 2025. She was the victim’s psychology and sociology teacher during his sophomore and junior years.
The victim has not wanted to cooperate with detectives due to concerns of it interfering with athletic scholarships. The victim has also since transferred to another school, which was allegedly motivated by athletics.
Angela Burlaka.
Investigation into Angela Burlaka
Burlaka is alleged to have sent explicit sexual material to several 16- to 17-year-old football players at the school via text message and SnapChat. Burlaka allegedly told at least one minor male student that her “husband doesn’t satisfy me enough” and asked him to come to her classroom early.
Information from the near-200-page police report (linked below) indicates Burlaka also began behaving oddly towards a female student after learning she was dating one of the football players. Whenever the female student asked to use the restroom, Burlaka accused her of going to see her boyfriend, and also frequently asked about this same boyfriend.
The investigation is ongoing, but substantially more information exists publically about Beck, thus far.
Investigation into Haley Beck
Beck and the victim exchanged more than 4,000 texts between June 21, 2025 and August 2, 2025. Many of the texts were highly sexual in nature. Text records revealed that Beck offered the victim oral sex on multiple occasions; allowed him access to her vehicle, even handing her car keys to him in front of the girls’ soccer team, which she coached; offered to purchase tequila and marijuana for the victim; completed his homework, raised his grades and improved his attendance, and sent the victim $630 via Apple Pay over two months. In text exchanges, Beck referred to herself as a “sugar mama” and said,” This money exchange felt like straight prostitution.” It is also alleged that a video circulated of Beck engaging in oral sex with the victim.
People interviewed by police disclosed telling details about Beck’s behaviors at the school and towards the victim. Beck openly favored male students over female students, showing particular favoritism to football team members. On at least one occasion, Beck invited some of the football players to swim at the pool in her apartment complex. She was also known to be unusually close with the female students on the soccer team she coached. She often communicated with them outside of school and offered to do favors for them. She’d also give them special privileges, such as allowing them to get lunch off campus and frequently paying for their food.
Beck has been described as behaving more like a peer than an authority figure. She got involved in gossip and was concerned with what her students thought of her. Beck was seemingly fixated on reliving her high school experience; a statement that was actually insinuated by the victim, who said she was “stuck in high school.” She frequently took TikTok videos with her underage students and shared them via the platform without parental consent. Many students and staff alike acknowledged Beck’s strange behaviors with students.
Beck also is the sister of famous TikToker and “Baywatch” star Noah Beck. A TikTok video of Noah and Haley Beck allegedly recently surfaced, where she described all her “best friends” as being some of her students.
Police issued a search warrant of Beck’s apartment and vehicle in August 2025. Bodily fluids were identified in the backseat. In Beck’s apartment, police seized a long handwritten letter addressed to the victim. The letter was included in the police report and reads verbatim as follows:
You’re probs gonna think this is cheesy as hell but you know I’m a words girly. I know, I know…you aren’t dying + you’re literally just a text away but I had little notes from people when I was away studying abroad + would just read them whenever I was feelin a little lonely. Obviously, w/ you being away from your closest people, you may feel that way at some point. So read this if you do 12 I’m really proud of you for choosing yourself in this situation even though I know it was tough. It’s kinda crazy to look back + realize in my 2 years of knowing you, our relationship has changed so much. I’m really glad I had the opportunity to teach you your sophomore year bc without that, we would’ve never really been chill w/ each other! I know there’s some random times/days where you decide to hate me – but that’s okay bc I know at the end of the day, we’re solid (most of the time). I genuinely feel like you’re a brother (weird…maybe a cousin or step-bro 12) + truly never thought I would be in this situation w/ you, but I’m glad to have you as someone who I think will be in my life for a while. Even if we don’t talk all the time now or even @ all when you’re in college, I feel like our little bond will always be there – so just hit me up when you wanna go get wasted @ a bar together. And I’ll send you my wedding invite one day.
I know you are nostalgic af so I hope you look back at our time as a good one 12 and no, this isn’t me like saying good bye, but I know things will be different. But don’t forget our first pickleball hang out + how you wouldn’t get out of my car for like 3 hours, or our sonic run after your state game, or all the random times you “fell asleep” on my couch just waiting for me to invite you into my room (lol). Oooohh our go-kart experience + our word games @ shake shack! You know, for this “relationship” beingextremely wrong, I feel like we have really made the most of it. I’m glad I got to come to your tattoo appts (even if you just wanted me to bring u food). All of our car hangouts were fun, too (for eating + other stuff lol). Or our night adventure in Cali! Like there is truly no other student (I know, so wrong) that I’d want to do all this with. Don’t let this all go to your head, but I’m glad you’re in my life 1 – okay ew wtf. I mean, you’ve been to my parents house…in their closet…insane. I feel like you have opened up to me about a lot of things. I’m glad that I’ve been able to be someone you can talk to. Even though sometimes my advice or input is unsolicited, I’m happy we can talk about things. You know you can always reach out of your neee anything 1.
I won’t lie, I would always look forward to when you would come over. Not even to do anything – but just to hang. I feel like I got good @ being by myself, but even w/ you, it was still just easy. Whether it was to talk, watch movies, make pizza, or do other stuff, I’m glad we have those mems. And lastly, it kinda hit me that it’ll be weird not seeing you during storm the halls + even weirder not seeing you on the field. I’m sure you knew this, but you’re the reason I went to all the games I could. Before I knew you well, I’d go to a few games a season, but last season I wanted to go to as many as I could + I’m glad I did because those were the last ones I’d be at for you 12. It’s not going to be the same, but I’m happy knowing you’re happy w/ where you’re at. I’m proud of you to all you’ve done + all you’ll continue to do. This is just the beginning! Even though you will go to your grave saying “we aren’t peers” I’m glad to have you as a friend. Like bro, you’re the 1st person that got me to smoke weed. You’re always gonna have that title, so we’re locked for real. And maybe one day we’ll be able to go to the aquarium 12. I’m here whenever 1. Even though you never say it back, I love you + wish you all the best, always 1.
Love, HB
It should be noted that the victim was 18 when the above communications were made, though grooming is alleged to have begun when he was still a minor, and that Beck used “predatory practices,” such as the exchange of money, to lure him.
Of Beck’s conduct, Peoria Unified School District released the following statement:
“The respondent maintained her professional position and used her power to manipulate the complainant and to develop a relationship outside the professional boundaries between student and teacher. These grooming actions were by definition unwelcome, and the behavior is severe, pervasive and objectively offensive.”
Mandatory Reporting
Under Arizona State law, any adult who works closely with children and has reason to believe a child is being abused or neglected is required to immediately contact police or the Department of Child Services (DCS). Mandatory reporters include school staff and faculty, law enforcement, medical professionals and religious leaders, as well as the child’s parents or guardians.
The victim’s mother was aware of their inappropriate relationship. She told investigators that Beck and her son began a sexual relationship when he turned 17 and she told him to “end it.” The victim was a star athlete on a varsity team that won multiple championships, and he and his parents didn’t want him coming forward due to fear of it harming his chances at an athletic scholarship. In this case, the school principal and the victim’s mother were aware of an incident occurring before it was reported. In the state, failing to report child sexual abuse is a class 6 felony.
Peoria police did not issue charges against anyone who may have failed to report a crime, in this situation, because it “did not meet the legal threshold required to establish reasonable suspicion of abuse that would mandate a report to law enforcement or child protective services,” according to Arizona’s Family.
The 2008 case of Casey Anthony and the death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee Anthony is infamous. Arguably, anyone of a certain age and living in the U.S. with access to the internet is at least familiar with the case. It remains among the more perplexing cases because there’s no certainty; Casey is a habitual liar, which has been proven time and again, and what happened to Caylee is still heavily debated.
More than seventeen years have since passed. Caylee would have been 20 years oldtoday.
As the trial unfolded, America watched in disbelief as Casey crafted a web of lies, and then created more lies to cover up the original lies. She was a master manipulator disguised in a petite form, which she played to her advantage. Many people found it perplexing that an attractive young woman was potentially capable of causing her daughter’s death—as if appearance is suggestive of culpability.
It was disturbing to see photos of Casey dancing at night clubs, chasing men around, getting a tattoo and living life as if her daughter was never part of it, during the 31 days that Caylee’s disappearance went unreported. Parents nationwide couldn’t understand how Casey compartmentalized her daughter’s disappearance and slip on a mask that prevented anyone from suspecting something was array—until she was forced into a corner. But … did she act alone? Was her speculated involvement in Caylee’s death intentional?
Welcome to what is probably one of the longer deep dives on this blog. Here, we’ll delve in to the case of Caylee Anthony’s disappearance and how Casey Anthony slipped through the (wide open) cracks of the justice system.
Caylee Anthony Goes Missing: The Backstory
Caylee Anthony. Photo from Facebook.
Caylee Marie Anthony was born on August 9, 2005 in Orlando, Florida. Her mother, Casey Anthony, was 19 years old at the time. It’s been said that the name “Caylee” was a combination of Casey and her brother Lee’s names.
Casey claimed her current boyfriend, Jesse Grund, was Caylee’s father; a DNA test proved otherwise.There were also rumors about the father being individuals named Eric Baker,Jesus Ortiz and “Josh.” Nonetheless, Caylee’s father was never named publicly. Casey has since claimed that Caylee’s father died in a motorcycle accident, was in the military, was a childhood acquaintance that passed away, and also that the pregnancy resulted from rape.
The Anthony’s home at 4937 Hopespring Drive in Orlando, Florida. Photo from Google.
After Caylee was born, she and her mom lived with Casey’s parents, Cindy and George Anthony, in a suburban area on Hopespring Drive in Orlando, Florida. George worked the swing shift as a security guard and Cindy worked day shifts as a nurse manager at a local hospital. By all accounts, they loved being grandparents and stepped in to help Casey with Caylee whenever possible. Both have described Casey as the light of their lives on numerous occasions.
The grandparents overstepped their boundaries at times, which led to ongoing arguments between them and Casey, but particularly between Casey and Cindy. The arguments often related to expectations of Casey as a mother. Regardless, Caylee had family who genuinely loved her. Her bedroom was decorated in Winnie the Pooh, which she loved, and she even had a playhouse in the backyard complete with her own “address” and mailbox.
Cindy and George Anthony. Credit: A&E Television /Mary Beth Koeth
Caylee was bright, doe-eyed and charismatic. She loved watching SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer, and swimming in the family’s aboveground pool. Impressively, Caylee was able to count to 40 in Spanish. She adoringly called George, “Jojo” and Cindy, “Cece.”
By many accounts, Caylee and Casey shared a very close bond. For most of Caylee’s life, one was rarely seen without the other. Casey was known for being very attentive and loving, ensuring her daughter was clean, well fed and nurtured. But as time wore on, Casey began seeking the freedom that aligned more with a childless 22-year-old than a mother.
In summer of 2008, Casey worked as an event planner at Universal Studios; a role that required her to work long hours, late nights and weekends. She previously worked for Kodiak (later Color Vision), a subcontractor for Universal Studios, from 2004 to 2006, which took and sold pictures of patrons on rides. (Despite having begun the manager trainee program, she was fired on April 24, 2006 for job abandonment.) The promotion to event planner was a step forward for Casey.
Because she worked long hours, Casey needed help caring for Caylee. She learned of a local nanny through an ex-boyfriend, Jeffrey Hopkins, who once dated the nanny and and whose son, Zachary, was often left in her care. The nanny, Zenaida Fernandez Gonzalez, lived in Orlando, and quickly became someone Casey trusted with her daughter. Zenaida, known as “Zanny the Nanny,” remained Caylee’s nanny for nearly two years up until her disappearance. According to Casey, Zanny hailed from New York City, moved to Florida for college and settled in Orlando, having moved three times in the general area. She recently cut her hair short, drove a Ford Focus, and had a mother named Gloria, who was sickly, and a roommate named Raquel Ferrel. Casey told an acquaintance that she paid Zanny $400 a week to watch Caylee.
In addition to working full time, in summer 2008 Casey started dating Anthony “Tony” Lazzaro, whom she met on Facebook. Lazzaro was a 21-year-old student studying music at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, and a promoter for Fusion Ultra Lounge; a sushi bar that became a martini bar at night. It wasn’t long before Casey introduced Lazzaro to Caylee, and mother and daughter went to his off-campus apartment a handful of times together, located at Sutton Place Apartments, also in Winter Park.
The Lead-Up to Caylee’s Disappearance
As you’ll learn in this post, Caylee Anthony was missing for a total of 31 days before Casey reported her missing. Below, you’ll discover what Casey was doing in Caylee’s absence.
Sun., June 15, 2008
Cindy and Caylee visit Cindy’s father—Casey’s grandfather—at Avante Mt. Dora Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for Father’s Day. Cindy and Caylee subsequently return home and swim in the pool. Meanwhile, Casey spends the day with Lazzaro.
That evening, Casey and Cindy argue about Casey stealing money from her grandparents and/or her not spending enough time with Caylee. Cindy’s concerns about Caylee’s welfare reaches the point where she threatens to gain legal guardianship of her. Casey’s brother, Lee, describes the argument as so intense that Cindy chokes Casey. A neighbor overhears and witnesses Casey yelling, “Fuck you, Mom! I don’t want to hear it anymore.” Then, Casey goes for a jog.
Mon., June 16, 2008
Casey starts her day messaging with a former love interest, Ryan Green, on AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) from 7:56 am to 8:06 am. At 10:27 am, she uploads a photo of the interior of Fusian Ultra Lounge to her Photobucket account.
George alleges that Casey and Caylee leave the Anthony home around 12:50 pm. in Casey’s white 1998 Pontiac Sunfire, with both of them wearing backpacks. Caylee wears a pink shirt, jean shorts, pink socks, white sandals, white sunglasses and a backpack, and has her hair pulled back.
However, phone records show that Casey doesn’t leave the Anthony home until 4:16 pm. Computer usage at the home is heaviest between 2 pm and 3 pm. Both Cindy and George are at work, so it’s assumed that Casey and Caylee return to the home after George leaves, or perhaps they never left at all.
From 4:11 pm to 4:25 pm, Casey calls several people, including her mother, whom she calls six times. At 5:57 pm, she arrives at Lazzaro’s apartment without Caylee, where she stays for the next few weeks. At 7:54 pm, Casey and Lazzaro are seen on surveillance renting movies at a Blockbuster. Lazzaro’s roommates, Nathan Lesniewicz, Cameron Campana and Roy “Clint” House, claim to see Caylee two to three times since Casey starts dating Lazzaro.
Cindy reaches out to Casey shortly after her and Caylee leave to ask about their plans to return. Casey tells her mom that Caylee is with Zanny.
Over the next month, Casey lies about a series of work engagements that prevent her and Caylee from returning home. Zanny lives close to Universal Studios, which makes it convenient for Casey to leave her there. While staying with Lazzaro, Casey helps him with his job as a promoter at Fusion Ultra Lounge, where oversees the shot girls. She also frequently cooks, cleans and does the men’s laundry.
Tues., June 17, 2008
Casey stays at Lazzaro’s apartment until 2 pm. She goes to her parents’ home, arriving at 2:45 pm, during which she backs her car into the garage. She remains at the home until 4:30 pm. No one is present but Casey.
Wed., June 18, 2008
Casey stays at Lazzaro’s apartment until 12:30 pm. She tells Cindy she has a work event at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida, which keeps her and Caylee away for six days. Nonetheless, between 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm, Casey returns to her parents’ home again and asks a neighbor, Brian Burner, if she can borrow a shovel to dig up a bamboo root in the yard. Again, she backs her car into the garage.
Casey tells her mother that Zanny comes on the trip to Tampa to watch Caylee while Casey attends meetings.
Fri., June 20, 2008
Casey Anthony participates in the Hot Body contest at Fusion Ultra Lounge. Photo from Reddit.
Casey enters the infamous “Hot Body” contest at Fusion Ultra Lounge as a stand-in to encourage others to participate. She tells Cindy she is still attending a conference in Tampa, Florida.
Sat. to Sun., June 21-22, 2008
Casey tells a friend that Caylee is at the beach with Zanny. She continues telling Cindy that she’s in Tampa and staying at the Hard Rock Hotel.
Mon., June 23, 2008
Casey is at Lazzaro’s apartment until around 1:30 pm. Around 2:30 pm, she drives toward her parents’ home but calls Lazzaro at 2:45 pm when her car runs out of gas. Lazzaro finds Casey, picks her up, and brings her to the Anthony home. She asks Lazzaro to break the lock on George’s shed, so she can steal cans of gas.
Tues., June 24, 2008
George discovers his shed lock is broken and his gas cans are missing. He files a police report with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) about the theft.
Around 2:30 pm, Casey goes to her parents and runs in to George. George says he needs to get something out of Casey’s trunk. Casey brushes past him, takes the gas cans and throws them at her father saying, “Here’s your fucking gas cans,” and then gets in her vehicle and leaves. She subsequently calls Cindy to talk about what happened.
When Cindy asks why Casey is in Orlando when she claimed to be in Tampa, she says that Zanny is hospitalized after being in a car accident and she needed to retrieve Zanny’s insurance information from her home on her behalf.
Wed., June 25, 2008
Casey tells her friend Amy Hyzienga—whom she is looking for an apartment with—that her car has a foul smell, which she believes is coming from the engine.
Thurs., June 26, 2008
Casey spends most of the day at Lazzaro’s apartment. When she speaks with Cindy, Casey says Zanny was released from the hospital late and her and Caylee are spending another night at the Hard Rock Hotel in Tampa.
Fri., June 27, 2008
Fusion Ultra Lounge in Orlando, Florida. The restaurant/nightclub has since closed. Photo from Facebook.
Casey is in the vicinity of her parents’ house around 11:30 am, where she remains for the next half-hour. She texts Hyzienga about an animal being plastered to the frame of her car.
Casey’s car runs out of gas again, this time at an Amscott in University Boulevard in Orlando. She calls Lazzaro to pick her up. When he arrives, she is holding a large grocery bag of food she collected from her parents’ house.
At 2:51 pm, Lazzaro and Casey are seen at J.C. Penny’s, where he purchases sneakers. That night, the couple goes to Fusion Ultra Lounge.
Sat. to Sun., June 28-29, 2008
Casey tells Cindy that she and Caylee are still at the Hard Rock Hotel in Tampa. Instead, Casey spends time with Lazzaro, during which they visit a Blockbuster and rent a movie.
Mon., June 30, 2008
Lazzaro has a planned trip to his home state of New York. Casey drives Lazzaro to the airport using his car and subsequently visits a Target store with Hyzienga.
Later that day, Casey’s car is impounded and brought to Johnson’s Wrecker in Orlando.
When Cindy asks for Caylee, Casey says she is working late and claims that Caylee is now with Jennifer Rosa, a relative of Zanny’s, and they are at Universal Studios.
Tues., July 1, 2008
With Lazzaro in New York, Casey spends the night at the apartment of her ex-fiancé, Jesse Grund. Caylee is not with her.
She initially shows up at Grund’s apartment to shower around 4 pm or 5 pm, and then meets Huizenga at J.C. Penny’s and subsequently visits Ale House, a popular bar in Orlando.
Wed., July 2, 2008
Casey visits a Ross clothing store and makes a tattoo appointment. That night, she visits two night clubs, Club Voyage and Mako, and sleeps at Huizenga’s apartment. When Huizenga asks about Caylee, she says Caylee is at the park, which is also what she tells her mother Cindy.
Cindy drives to Universal Studios in attempts to get ahold of Casey and/or see Caylee, because Casey told her that Caylee was attending a character breakfast. After Cindy arrives, Casey tells her that she and Caylee are now in Jacksonville, Florida, visiting Jeffrey Hopkins to rekindle a relationship. She texts her ex-fiance Grund saying not to respond to potential texts from her family because they are “crazy.” She also goes shopping at the Florida Mall in South Orlando with an acquaintance, Melissa England.
That same day, Casey gets the now-infamous tattoo, “bella vita” on her left shoulder blade. The tattoo is Italian for “beautiful life.”
That night, Cindy shares a MySpace post titled, “My Caylee is missing.” Her only friend on MySpace is Casey and she makes the post to attract her attention. Cindy also reaches out to her son, Lee, for help tracking down Casey.
Lee does some online sleuthing and discovers Casey will likely be at a night club in Orlando. He goes with his then-girlfriend (now wife) Mallorie Parker to look for Casey, but someone catches wind of Lee and tells Casey, who hightails it out of the area to avoid confrontation.
Fri., July 4, 2008
Casey tells Cindy that she and Caylee are still in Jacksonville, and tells Grund that Caylee is at SeaWorld.
Rather, Casey is at the home of a new friend, William Walters, helping him and Hyzienga plan a Fourth of July party at Lake Lineola. She drinks, watches fireworks and has a great time.
Sat., July 5, 2008
Casey goes to IKEA with Walters, under the guise that she is looking for furniture for her and Hyzienga’s future apartment. She also has lunch with Walters. She then meets up with Lazzaro, who returns to Orlando, has dinner with him at Buffalo Wild Wings and watches a UFC fight.
When Cindy calls, Casey tells her that her car broke down in Jacksonville, leaving her and Caylee stuck at Hopkins’ house for a few more days. She says Caylee is playing with Hopkins’ son, Zachary.
Fri., July 11, 2008
Casey goes to Fusion Ultra Lounge.
Sat., July 12, 2008
Casey goes to a Win Dixie at 9:30 pm.
Sun., July 13, 2008
Casey tells Cindy that she and Caylee have to stay in Jacksonville longer to attend the wedding of Hopkins’ mother, Jules.
Tues., July 15, 2008
Cindy and George receive a letter in the mail about Casey’s vehicle being impounded. Cindy and George retrieve Casey’s car and attempt to contact her without luck. By their accounts, the vehicle has a strong smell akin to garbage.
Meanwhile, Casey drives Huizenga’s car, as she is in Puerto Rico on vacation. Casey calls the tattoo shop to make another appointment and cashes a check at Bank of America around 1:30 pm. She then drives to the airport to pick up Huizenga and Ricardo Morales—an ex-boyfriend she dated in winter and spring of 2008—all the while speaking to Erika Gonzalez, a shot girl at Fusion Ultra Lounge, and pretending she is with Caylee.
Cindy searches Casey’s car for clues about what’s going on. In the car she finds Casey’s work bag, which contains Huizenga’s contact information. Cindy never met Huizenga, but nonetheless calls her, tells her what’s going on and asks to pick her up. Huizenga agrees and confirms that Casey is in Orlando living with Lazzaro, and she never left the area in past month as she claimed.
Cindy goes to Lazzaro’s apartment with Huizenga, where she finds Casey but not Caylee. She demands Casey take her to see Caylee, and they drive around for two hours before Cindy calls the police.
Caylee is Reported Missing; Casey is Arrested and the Investigation Begins
Below is the timeline that follows Cindy Anthony’s phone call to 9-1-1.
Tues., July 15, 2008
Cindy places several calls to 9-1-1. First, she asks police to arrest Casey for grand theft auto. Next, she reports Caylee missing.
During one of these phone calls, she makes the now-infamous statement:
“There is something wrong. I found my daughter’s car today and it smells like there’s been a dead body in the damn car.”
Cindy puts Casey on the phone at the request of the 9-1-1 operator. Casey sounds agitated. Casey tells her mother and the operator that Zanny took Caylee, and that she spoke with Caylee briefly that day, but the phone number is no longer in service. When asked why she waited 31 days to report her daughter missing, Casey says:
“I have been looking for her and have gone through other resources to try and find her, which is stupid.”
Casey later tells investigators that she was introduced to Zanny through Hopkins, who uses the nanny’s services for his son. Investigators identify an individual named Jeffrey Hopkins, a former middle school acquaintance of Casey’s, who lives in Orlando. Though Hopkins worked for Universal Studios in 2002, he doesn’t recall seeing Casey there. In fact, Hopkins has no children, doesn’t know anyone named Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez, doesn’t have a trust fund (as Casey told her mother), never dated Casey, and never lived in Jacksonville.
Wed., July 16, 2008
Casey Anthony’s white 1998 Pontiac Sunfire.
Police seize Casey’s vehicle. Cadaver dogs pick up the scent of human decomposition in Casey’s trunk and in the Anthony’s backyard, near Caylee’s playhouse. Forensic testing confirms the presence of decomposition in Casey’s trunk the next day.
Casey is arrested on charges of child neglect, giving false statements and obstruction for lying about Caylee’s whereabouts. She is brought in for questioning and speaks with Detective John Allen, former sergeant with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division. While Casey fills out paperwork she and Detective Allen engage in small talk, during which she mostly speaks of her aspirations to become a personal trainer. She does not speak about Caylee.
Zanny and Hopkins Don’t Exist
Casey tells Detective Allen that Caylee was last seen with Zanny. Police ask Casey to direct them to Zanny’s residence and she brings them to a unit at the Sawgrass Apartments that was vacant for 142 days. (Casey is familiar with the complex because it’s where her former best friend, Annie Downing, once lived.) She is unable to provide Zanny’s phone number because she claims to have lost her phone at work.
Police learn that no one named Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez ever lived at the Sawgrass Apartments. A woman with the same name is located in Orlando, but police confirm there no connection to Casey or Caylee. The real Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez had filled out a visitor form to look at an apartment in the complex, but she never lived there. Having found that Casey created a fictional version of Hopkins, they are highly suspicious of her statements about Zanny.
Casey Doesn’t Work at Universal Studios
Detective Yuri Melich contacts Leonard Turtya, assistant manager at the Loss Prevention Department at Universal Studios, to inquire about Casey’s job. It’s determined that Casey is not an employee and never was, though she worked for Kodiak (later Color Vision), a subcontractor of Universal Studios, from 2004 to 2006. Police also learn that other colleagues Casey mentioned did not work there either, including Juliette Lewis and Cheryl Davis, and perhaps never existed.
Detective Allen and Detective Appling Wells pick up Casey to bring her to Universal Studios. She meets with Detective Melich and and Turtua in the employee parking lot. Casey leads them to a building and down a hallway, all the while waving to other people working there. When she reaches the end of the hallway, Casey turns around, puts her hands in her pockets and, with a smile, declares she she doesn’t work there. She is subsequently brought into a conference room, where she is interrogated.
Casey Anthony’s mugshot photo. Photo credit: Orange County Police Department.
Casey is arrested and charged with child neglect, making false official statements, and obstructing an investigation. Bail is set at $500,000, with her father’s claims of Casey’s vehicle smelling like a dead body—George Anthony previously worked in law enforcement—serving as incriminating evidence.
Wed., Aug. 20, 2008
The high-profile nature of the case draws the attention of Leonard Padilla, a bounty hunter from California. Padilla pays Casey’s bond with the intent that if Casey is not in jail, she can better aid in the search for Caylee.
Fri., Aug. 29, 2008
The bond is rescinded when Casey is arrested for stealing and cashing four checks worth about $650 from Huizenga.
Tues., Oct. 14, 2008
Casey is indicted on seven criminal charges, including first-degree murder. She enters a not-guilty plea.
Fri., Jan. 23, 2009
Due to the stress wrought on George by the investigation—the loss of his granddaughter coupled with Casey’s allegations of sexual abuse, which he has and continues to refute—George is hospitalized after a suicide attempt. He is found in a Daytona Beach, Florida, hotel, alongside a five-page suicide note and under the influence of medication and alcohol.
Caylee’s Remains are Found
The area where Caylee’s body was found was decorated by community members to honor her memory.
On December 11, 2008, five months after Caylee disappeared, her skeletal remains are discovered in a wooded area off Suburban Drive, less than 0.3 miles from the Anthony home and within site of the local elementary school. Her body is discovered by Roy Kronk, a meter reader for Orange County, Florida. Deputy Edward Turso reports to the scene and confirm skeletal remains.
Because Caylee’s body was exposed to the elements for six months, it wasn’t possible to determine the cause of death; nonetheless, many clues were still gathered at the scene. On December 20, 2008, the medical examiner rules Caylee’s death a homicide due to the handling and location of the body.
Caylee is found with three pieces of overlapping duct tape covering her nose and mouth, and wrapped around her jaw. Overtop the duct tape that is placed on her mouth is a heart sticker. The same brand of duct tape, which is not widely available, is found in the Anthony home and on gas cans in the garage. Stickers matching the one on the duct tape are found in the Anthony home. The body is wrapped in a Winnie the Pooh blanket—the same blanket that was missing from the Anthony home—and placed inside two plastic bags, which are placed inside a laundry canvas bag and put behind a rotting log. The laundry bag comes in a set of two, and the matching bag is located in the Anthony home.
Curiously, Kronk initially contacts the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) on August 11, 2008 to report a suspicious gray bag in a wooded area off Suburban Drive. An officer arrives at the scene, but doesn’t thoroughly investigate. Plagued by a bad feeling, Kronk calls again on August 12, 2008, to report the same gray bag. This time, Deputy Elizabeth Collins responds, but she does not enter the wooded area. Determined, Kronk calls again on August 13, 2008 and meets with Deputy Richard Cain, who briefly searches the area but claims the bag is trash.
Because of the failure to thoroughly investigate the scene earlier, an internal investigation is launched into Deputy Cain.
The Murder Trial
Casey Anthony at the Florida vs. Casey Anthony trial.
The trial of Florida vs. Casey Anthony begins on May 24, 2011. It is heavily watched, publicized and scrutinized.
Finding jurors is a major challenge because most people are familiar with the case. Instead of finding jurors who never heard of Casey or Caylee Anthony, the court selects jurors who state they are unbiased. The trial goes on for six weeks and is overseen by Belvin Perry, former chief judge in Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit.
The Prosecution
The prosecution, led by Assistant State Attorney Linda Drane Burdick and supported by Assistsnt State Attorneys Frank George and Jeff Ashton, paint a picture of Casey as a young mother who wants to freely party, date, and live on her own accord, and who intentionally killed her daughter via suffocation to relieve herself of the responsibilities of motherhood. Having found searches for “chloroform” and “neck breaking” on the family’s computer when Casey was home, the prosecution alleges that Casey used chloroform to suffocate Caylee, after which she placed duct tape on her nose and mouth.
Assistant State Attorney Linda Drane Burdick tells the court:
“As difficult as it may be for anyone to accept that a mother would intentionally kill her own child — from the evidence you will hear in this case there is no other conclusion that can be drawn,” Burdick said. “No one but Casey Anthony had access to all the pieces of evidence in this case … no one else lied to their friends, to their family, to the investigators. No one else benefited from the death of Caylee Marie Anthony.”
The prosecution notes several others points of evidence, which include:
human hair found in the trunk of Casey’s car, which is traced to the Anthony’s female lineage via mitochondrial DNA testing: the hair displayed root banding, which is a distinct band of discoloration consistent with decomposition
a high presence of chloroform in the trunk of Casey’s car, although it is uncertain whether it was used to subdue Caylee or was simply present in cleaning products
a stained paper towel found in the trunk of Casey’s car, which contained fly pupa; the stain is identified as grave wax, produced from the decomposition of human fat
the presence of 41 of 424 compounds associated with decomposition in the trunk of Casey’s car
the fabrication of Zanny the Nanny
the same duct tape used to cover Caylee’s mouth also found in the Anthony household
several computer searches on the Anthony family computer for “chloroform”, “neck breaking”, “hydrogen peroxide death”, “how to make chloroform”, “household weapons”, “inhalation chloroform,” “alcohol acetone”, “hydrogen peroxide death”, “shovel”, “making weapons out of household objects”, and “chloroform habit” on various dates in March 2008
On June 23, 2011, Cindy Anthony takes the stand to refute some of the prosecutor’s arguments. She testifies that she searched “chloroform” on the family computer—despite her being at work at the time. She claims that her dogsn ate bamboo leaves and she was curious if there were any ill effects.
The Defense
The defense, led by Attorney Jose Baez—who later defended Aaron Hernandez and Harvey Weinstein—and co-counsel James Cheney Mason, claim that Caylee accidentally drowned in the family pool and George helped cover up her death. To argue their point, the defense notes the following:
Zanny the Nanny was fabricated and Casey lied to police throughout the investigation as a result of having learned to lie throughout her life from her father, George Anthony, who sexually molested her as a child
no fingerprints are found on the duct tape found on Caylee’s person
no blood seen or found on Casey’s belongings
It is evident that Casey lied throughout the investigation and for years prior, and the defense doesn’t dismiss her behavior patterns; however, reasoning is given as to why Casey lied so often. During the trial, Casey claims her father and older brother, Lee, sexually abused and molested her as a child. The claims are never proven and George and Lee denied them claims and have ever since. Casey claims these memories resurfaced when she was incarcerated and awaiting trial. To support her claim, she says that she never allowed Caylee to be alone with George (false) and she ensured Caylee slept with her so George didn’t have access to her. Casey also claims George assisted her with disposing Caylee’s body, which he has also adamantly refused.
Casey is Found Not Guilty
On July 5, 2011, after 10 hours of deliberation, Casey is found not guilty of first-degree murder, manslaughter or child abuse. She is convicted on four counts of lying to police; all misdemeanor charges. On July 7, Casey is sentenced to four years in jail and a $4,000 fine, one for each charge, and she is ordered to pay the $213,000 to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office to pay for the cost of the search for Caylee. Because Casey was previously incarcerated and earned reduced time for good behavior, she is released from Orange County Jail just 10 days later. Casey is free to go.
Casey’s Inconsistencies
Below are some inconsistencies in Casey’s statements that are worthy of note:
Casey claimed memories of George sexually abusing her resurfaced in jail—but she also claimed that Caylee was never alone with him and slept with Casey, with the door locked, so George wouldn’t have access to her—which was before the memories “resurfaced.” She also believed George “was with” Caylee during the entire 31 days she was “missing,” and told George on a jailhouse phone call that he was “the best grandpa.” So, which one is it?
Casey claimed George took and disposed of Caylee’s body, but how does this explain the presence of chloroform, coffin flies, decomposition material, and a hair with root banding inside of Casey’s trunk, coupled with the smell, if Caylee was never inside?
Casey claimed that Caylee drowned in the pool, but she was found with duct tape over her mouth and nose, in what appeared to be a staged homicide. If her death was accidental, why the attempt to make it look intentional?
Casey claimed the last time she saw Caylee was when she dropped her off at the bottom of the stairs at the Sawgrass Apartment Complex leading up to Zanny’s apartment. She later claimed that she met Zanny in a park, and Zanny aggressively threw her down and took Caylee from her. (Either way, Zanny was fictional.)
Casey claimed to have slept late on the morning of Caylee’s alleged disappearance because she didn’t feel well, but phone and computer records showed she was up late texting and talking to Lazzaro, and awake early messaging on AIM and using the internet.
Casey claimed in Part I of the 2022 Peacock documentary that there “is no such thing as good sleep for her.” In a 2017 interview with the Associated Press, she stated, “I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks of me. I never will. I’m OK with myself. I sleep pretty good at night.”
“Most-Hated Mom in America”: The Aftermath
Even though Casey was found not guilty, she remains guilty in the eyes of public opinion and across social media. Her case occurred at a unique time when social media, particularly MySpace, was extremely popular, which allowed people to post and share about their thoughts on the trial.
After the trial, Casey went into hiding, avoiding public places due to the intense scrutiny and obvious hatred from the general public. Even though the jury determined there wasn’t enough evidence to convict her, the public remained convinced that Caylee’s disappearance and death was Casey’s fault—and her behavior through the investigation and trial didn’t dissuade their beliefs.
After the trial ended, Casey’s defense team was worried about her safety. She had nowhere to go and wasn’t going to return to living with her parents due to the allegations made against George and extreme family divide. Instead, Casey stayed with Patrick McKenna, the lead investigator on her case, and worked for him for the next 10+ years. McKenna, a high-profile private investigator, previously worked on the OJ Simpson case.
2015
The real Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez, a 42-year-old mother of six, filed a defamation lawsuit against Casey in 2008, claiming her reputation was smeared. In 2015, the lawsuit was dismissed.
2016
In 2016, Casey launched her own photography business, Case Photography, LLC in West Palm Beach, Florida. The business shut down three years later.
2017
In March, Casey gave an interview to the Associated Press. In the interview, she said: “I’m OK with myself, I sleep pretty good at night.”
Casey also said, “I understand the reasons people feel about me. I understand why people have the opinions that they do. I’m still not even certain as I stand here today about what happened.”
2020
In December 2020, Casey submitted paperwork to start a private investigation business, Case Research & Consulting Services LLC. Her paperwork was denied, as Casey didn’t have a private investigator license to operate in the state of Florida and wouldn’t be able to obtain one due to formerly being charged with a felony.
2022
Casey appears in a three-part docuseries that aired on Peacock, Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies. In the docuseries, she claims that Caylee drowned in the pool and George helped to cover up the accident.
2024
On January 24, 2024, Cindy and George agree to take polygraph tests on camera as part of an A&E series Casey Anthony’s Parents: The Lie Detector Test.
2025
Casey resurfaced on TikTok, announcing the launch of her TikTok and Substack newsletter, and her status as a legal advocate.
Caylee’s Law
In the aftermath of Caylee’s death and the subsequent trial, the term “Caylee’s Law,” was created in reference to various states making it a felony for parents and/or caregivers to fail to report a child missing if there is awareness or speculation of the child being in danger.
The following states have enforced an iteration of Caylee’s Law:
At 7 months old, Emmanuel Haro of Cabazon, California, was described as a happy baby. Born to Rebecca Renee Haro, 41, and Jake Mitchell Haro, 32, on December 21, 2024, Emmanuel lived with his parents and at least one other sibling, 2-year-old Makenzie.
Emmanuel was reported missing on Friday, August 14, 2025 when his mother was allegedly attacked by an unknown man outside of a Big 5 Sporting Goods store on Yucaipa Boulevard. But much to Rebecca and Jake’s surprise, the investigation quickly turned in the direction of the baby’s parents.
Emmanuel has not been found, but the search for him remains ongoing. At the time of his alleged disappearance, Emmanuel was approximately 2’ tall and weighed 21 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. He is cross-eyed. He was last seen wearing a black Nike onesie. Both Jake and Rebecca are currently detained without bail on charges of murder and filing a false police report, and are awaiting trial for the murder of their son.
Here’s more on the developing story.
The Timeline
The timeline of this case has moved rapidly and continues to do so. As updates present, more information will be added below.
Emmanuel Haro. Photo from Facebook.
Fri., August 14, 7:41 pm
Rebecca calls 9-1-1 to report her son Emmanuel missing. She tells the operator that she was attacked from behind while standing outside of her vehicle, changing the baby’s diaper.
She is in the parking lot of a Big 5 Sporting Goods store on Yucaipa Boulevard. She only recalls the perpetrator saying, “Hola.” Rebecca claims the attack renders her unconscious and Emmanuel is gone when she regains consciousness. When she awakes, Rebecca runs into the store to ask if anyone saw her baby or someone with a baby, after which she calls 9-1-1.
Big 5 Sporting Goods store on Yucaipa Boulevard. Photo from Facebook.
Rebecca later states that her and Emmanuel were in the the area for an older step-child’s youth sports competition, which began at 6 pm. Her and Emmanuel drive to the store to purchase a mouthguard for her stepson to use. (It is later reported that Rebecca and Emmanuel were never seen at the sports game.)
7:47 pm
Police from San Bernardino and Riverside counties report to the scene. K9 dogs and helicopters are dispatched but Emmanuel is not located.
8:00 pm
Jake Haro, Rebecca’s husband and the father of Emmanuel, arrives at the scene.
Sat., Aug. 15
Local authorities release a statement about the ongoing search for Emmanuel. No Amber Alert is issued due to the lack of description about a suspect or vehicle.
Rebecca and Jake speak to Los Angeles ABC station KABC about their son’s disappearance. Rebecca describes Emmanuel as a “happy boy” and both parents plead for his safe return. Rebecca interchangeably refers to her son in the past and present tenses. Both parents cry during the interviews, but no tears are visible.
Rebecca has two black eyes that do not appear fresh, but are in the stages of healing. Her eyes aren’t swollen but have bruising underneath. (It is later reported that Rebecca had black eyes days prior to the alleged attack.)
Sun., Aug. 16
The Sheriff’s Office releases a statement that multiple individuals have been interviewed about Emmanuel’s disappearance. Inconsistencies are noted in Rebecca’s statements. When Rebecca is alerted to the inconsistencies, she declines to continue her police interview. The parents are not ruled out as suspects.
The Uvalde Foundation for Kids, a nonprofit founded in Texas to stop school violence, but which occasionally gets involved in outside issues, initially offered to aid in the search for Emmanuel and provide a $5,000 reward for his safe return. However, as new information became available about the parents as suspects, the organization withdrew their offer.
Mon., Aug. 17
Riverside County Child Protective Services takes Makenzie, 2, Emmanuel’s older sibling, into protective custody.
A search warrant is issued for the family’s home on Ramona Street in Cabazon. K-9 units search the property.
Around 7:30 pm, community members gather in the parking lot of the Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Yucaipa, holding candles and praying for Emmanuel’s safe return.
Tues., Aug. 18
The Sherriff’s office releases a press release stating that extensive searches were conducted in Yucaipa and Cabazon. Officials are also reviewing surveillance video from areas of interest and served several search warrants at the Haro residence.
Thurs., Aug. 19
Officials investigate a reported signing of Emmanuel in Kern County. No additional information is provided.
Vincent Hughes, attorney for Jake Haro, tells ABC News that both parents “seek answers about their missing child” and that Jake is “fully cooperating with law enforcement and investigators.”
Jake’s vehicle is seized by authorities.
Jake’s first ex-wife, Isabel Gonzalez, files a domestic violence restraining order against him in efforts to protect their son, Eli Mitchell Haro.
Fri., Aug. 20
Rebecca and Jake Haro are seen leaving the Riverside Superior Juvenile Courts, allegedly regarding a separate issue involving 2-year-old Makenzie, who was taken into protective custody.
Rebecca and Jake Haro are arrested ar their home in Cabazon, California, on Aug. 22, 2025. Credit: Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office
Sat., Aug. 22
Eight days after their son went missing, Rebecca and Jake Haro are arrested at 7:28 am at their home for the murder of Emmanuel. There are no other suspects at this time. The search for Emmanuel continues.
Rebecca is taken into custody at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, California and Jake is placed in custody at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banninf, California.
Mon., Aug. 24
Rebecca and Jake Haro are arrested ar their home in Cabazon, California, on Aug. 22, 2025. Photo from Facebook.
Another search is conducted for Emmanuel along the westbound shoulder of the 60 Freeway, near Gilman Springs Road in Moreno Valley with cadaver dogs. Jake is also present and is seen wearing an orange jumpsuit. Emmanuel is not found.
Wed., Aug. 26
Jake Haro, 32, and Rebecca Haro, 41. Credit: Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office
Rebecca and Jake appear in a California court and are formally charged with murder and filing a false police report. Both individuals are in court for less than five minutes and a $1 million bail is set for each of them.
The Haro’s are scheduled to appear in court again on September 4, 2025.
Thurs., Aug. 27
Riverside County District Attorney Michael Hestrin leads a press conference. Officials announce that they have a “pretty strong indication” about Emmanuel’s location and remains, and the alleged murder “was preventable in numerous ways.”
Hestrin shares the belief that Emmanuel was “severely abused over a period of time” and that both parents “would have been aware of the abuse.” It is presumed that Emmanuel likely succumbed to his injuries.
Hestrin describes Jake Haro as an “experienced child abuser,” stating that he “should have gone to prison” due to previously abusing a daughter he shares with an ex-wife in 2018. His daughter is bedridden as a result. The judge in that case granted Jake probation in what Hestrin describes as an “outrageous error in judgement.” Jake was on probation at the time of Emmanuel’s disappearance for a separate matter.
Fri., Sept. 4
Rebecca and Jake appear in court and plead not guilty to the murder of Emmanuel. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 17, 2025.
Investigators believe Emmanuel was likely killed between August 5 to 14 as a result of severe long-term abuse. August 5 was the last confirmed sighting of Emmanuel.
Wed., Sept. 10
Investigators confirm the discovery of a shallow hole near the Haro residence that contains clothing believed to be Emmanuel’s. The clothing appears to have faint blood marks.
Jake is being represented by Deputy Public Defenders Allison Lowe and Paulette Garthwaite, assigned to him from the Riverside County Public Defender. Rebecca is being represented by attorney Jeff Moore of Blunenthal & Moore.
Digging in to Rebecca and Jake Haro
Rebecca Renee Chavez was born on February 3, 1984. She was adopted by Mary Beushausen, who has been identified as both her adoptive mother and grandmother. Rebecca and her first husband, Edgar Gomez Chavez, were married for 11 years. Rebecca has two daughters with her first husband, who are both adults.
Jake Mitchell Haro was born on February 11, 1993. The names of his parents are not publically available at this time. Like his own children, Jake was removed from the custody of his parents due to drug issues and abuse allegations. His grandfather was mentally ill and his mother, who suffered from substance abuse, frequently left Jake home alone in the care of his grandfather. Domestic violence also occurred between Jake’s parents, of which he observed on many occasions. At 13, Jake and his siblings, a brother and sister, were removed from his parents’ care and placed into an adoptive family.
On March 3, 2014, Jake married his first wife, Isabel Gonzalez. The couple welcomed a son on March 9, 2014, Eli Mitchell Haro. Isabel filed for divorce on May 11, 2016 and the divorce was finalized on July 8, 2016.
Sometime in 2017, Jake began a relationship with Vanessa Avina. The couple married and had two children, a boy and girl. On April 26, 2018, Jake filed a $100,000 personal injury claim due to a car accident in Beaumont, California. On August 10, 2018, Jake and Vanessa filed for bankruptcy in Riverside County.
Information is not available as to when Jake Haro and Rebecca Haro married. However, it is known that the couple have at least two children together: 2-year-old, Makenzie, and 7-month-old Emmanuel. At the time of their arrest, Jake and Rebecca lived in the home of Jake’s mother, who lived next door to them
After Rebecca became involved with Jake, it is alleged that she distanced herself from her own family. The distance created tension because it appeared that Rebecca chose Jake over them.
Jake Haro’s Record of Abuse
In 2021, Jake was convicted of cruelty to a child in Hemet, California in 2018; that child was his then-10-week-old daughter, identified in some sources as “Carla,” with his second wife Vanessa Avina. On October 12, 2018, Carla was admitted to Hemet Valley Hospital with multiple broken bones and a brain hermorage. The extent of Carla’s injuries were as follows:
fracture to the fifth rib on her left side
partial skull fracture
brain hemorrhage
significant neck swelling
On October 13, 2018, Carla was transferred to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where she was intubated in critical condition. Healing fractures were identified in eight ribs, and there was a healing tibia fracture on her right left, indicating ongoing abuse.
When questioned, Jake told authorities that he accidentally dropped Carla while bathing her in the sink. In December 13, 2018, Carla’s injuries were determined to be intentional and the result of shaken-baby syndrome, squeezing of the chest, and twisting of the tibia. Jake, who also allegedly abused his ex-wife, blamed her for Carla’s injuries.
Carla, now 7, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a result of her injuries. She is unable to walk or talk, and is blind, and allegedly only has use of 3% of her brain. A cousin of Jake’s ex-wife has custody of both Carla and her brother.
Jake pled guilty to a single count of willful child neglect as part of a deal stricken with law enforcement. Instead of being sentenced to prison time, Judge Dwight W. Moore sentenced him to 48 months (four years) of probation, a 180-day work-release program and counseling in 2023. This horrific oversight was an example of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s efforts to shut down penitentiaries and prioritize rehabilitation over jail time—including for violent criminals.
Vanessa Avina was also charged with felony child cruelty for placing a child in circumstances that could have resulted in serious injury or death.
In 2024, Jake was arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a handgun and ammunition, and thus violating his probation. Despite his previous charges and current violation, he was released on a $10,000 bail in August 2024. He was scheduled to appear in court on September 2, 2025, but it is currently unknown as to how or whether his previous charges will affect his current charges.
Shaken Baby Syndrome
There is a lot of speculation in this case as to whether Emmanuel Haro suffered from shaken baby syndrome. Currently, there is no information that confirms or refutes whether the child is a victim of such; however, some of the photos that surfaced online have drawn questions.
Shaken baby syndrome is a severe brain injury that occurs when a baby or toddler is forcibly shaken. It typically occurs when a parent or caregiver shakes a child out of frustration and/or anger, which can resul in permanent brain damage due to the brain rattling against the skull.
Symptoms of shaken baby syndrome include:
a bulging soft spot on the top of the head
a large head or forehead
coma
difficulty breathing
dilated pupils
extreme irritability
inability to focus on or follow movement with their eyes
inability to lift the head
lethargy
not smiling, babbling or talking
pale or discolored skin
paralysis
poor eating
seizures
tremors
vomiting
Tragically, the extent of Carla’s injuries—Emmanuel’s older half-sister—reflect that of shaken baby syndrome and were presumed to have occurred at least partly as a result of such. In this case, it is certainly speculated that Emmanuel may have suffered from shaken baby syndrome as well. In photos, he is not seen smiling, actively engaging or playing. He is cross-eyed, despite allegedly not always having been so. Being cross-eyed, or failing to follow movement with his eyes, may be a sign of shaken baby syndrome. It is also unknown as to whether he was scooting or engaging appropriately for his age.
Unusual Connections
Rebecca Haro’s brother, James Beushausen is the convicted “Palm Springs killer.” In 2017, the then-34-year-old was arrested for murdering his girlfriend, Jaylynn Amanda Keith, 27. Keith was discovered in the bathtub with a gunshot wound to her head. Beushausen reported her death as a suicide but was ultimately found guilty and sentenced to 50 years to life imprisonment.
My 2 Cents
This case is both heartbreaking and also somewhat difficult to follow. There is a lot of misinformation.
From the information I’ve gathered, Jake Haro has at least five young children, including the two children he shares with his third wife, Rebecca Haro, who has two children of her own. I also must note that Jake is on his third marriage in 10 years at just 32 years old.
From the research publically available, I believe Jake has an anger problem and is unable to control himself—so much so that he has taken his anger out on numerous romantic partners, likely including Rebecca, and small children, which (I believe) likely includes Emmanuel and factually includes his then-10-week-old daughter, Carla. Imagine being an adult and having so little control that you intentionally and repeatedly abuse a 10-week-old child; someone that is so small and fragile, yet also dependent on you to keep them safe. The fact that he wasn’t already in jail for this is DESPICABLE.
Judge Dwight W. Moore essentially ruled that Carla’s life was only worth a measly 180-day work-release program and some probation and counseling. This makes no senseand directly led to the incident in question involving Emmanuel. If Jake was incarcerated for his past child abuse, then this current case would have never happened.
The judge’s intentions were rehabilitation but it’s been at least seven years since Carla was abused and Jake is still abusing his young children and partners. Rehabilitation is not possible for him and shouldn’t be considered otherwise.
I believe—and again, this is purelyspeculation—that Emmanuel is deceased and his death resulted from long-term abuse. I believe he succumbed to his injuries and Jake, with the help of Rebecca, concocted a story and hid his body, because they knew Jake would face a harsh sentence due to his past crimes coupled with the current case.
I also believe Rebecca knows what happened to Emmanuel. However, I wonder if she was so beaten down mentally and physically as a result of ongoing abuse from Jake, that she agreed to (or was manipulated to) help conceal Emmanuel’s body. I would not be surprised if Rebecca turns against her husband as the trial begins, using allegations of abuse to justify her involvement, and if she is offered a plea deal for revealing what happened.
Rest in peace, Emmanuel.
Anyone with information about Emmanuel’s disappearance and alleged murder should contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Specialized Investigation Division at (909) 890-4904.
Anonymous tips can be made by contacting WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME (27463) or at wetip.com.
Jailyn Candelario waited desperately in her Pack ‘n Play for her mother to return. It wasn’t the first time Kristel Candelario, 31, left her 16-month-old daughter unattended for a lengthy time, but it was the most heinous.
For several days, Jailyn remained trapped in her Pack ‘n Play, gradually growing weaker as her pleading cries went unanswered. She only had a few bottles of milk, which was somehow to last her some 10 days. While her mother was gone, Jailyn remained in the same soiled diaper, with urine and feces saturating her blankets and the Pack ‘n Play liner. In a despondent attempt to eat, she consumed her own feces. Out of frustration that no one responded to her cries, Jailyn clawed at her own face.
At 16 months old, Jailyn could not fend for herself and her mother knew that. She had an older child, a 7-year-old daughter, and was aware of how to care for a child of Jailyn’s age—or so, her family and friends thought.
Jailyn’s mother wasn’t in danger and wasn’t being held against her will. Rather, she intentionally left for two trips, one to Detroit, Michigan, and another to Puerto Rico, to spend time with two different men while her own parents—Jailyn’s grandparents and primary caregivers—were away. While gone, she visited a Star Wars-themed amusement park, sunbathed on the beach and ate delicious food—all while her daughter was starving, traumatized and abandoned. Kristel packed her bags, closed the door behind her drove away, and knowingly left her daughter to an unthinkable fate.
When Kristel returned to the West Boulevard neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, on June 16, 2023, feeling sun-kissed and refreshed, she opened the door at 7:36 am to find her daughter unresponsive. Jailyn lost a third of her weight while her mother was gone. Kristel called the police, but not until she changed Jailyn’s clothes to make her obviously severe condition appear less so. The Cleveland Division of Police (CPD) and Cleveland Division of Fire responded to the scene, and they weren’t fooled by Kristel’s lies.
Kristel Candelario. Credit: Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department
On June 17, 2023, Kristel was arrested and charged with aggravated murder and endangering children. In March 2024, she was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Here’s more on the case.
Who is Jailyn Candelario?
Jailyn Candelario. Photo from FindAGrave.
Jailyn Amelia Candelario was born on January 26, 2022 to parents Kristel Candelario and Henry Garcia in Cleveland, Ohio.
Jailyn was a happy, sweet and curious 16-month-old toddler. She lived with her mother, Kristel, her older sister, Amaya, and her grandparents, Ketty and Clever Torres, in a three-bedroom home in Cleveland’s West Boulevard neighborhood.
Background on Kristel Candelario
Kristel Andrea Candelario was born on September 11, 1991 in Guayaquil, Ecuador, to parents Clever and KettyTorres. She married and had a daughter with her first husband, though the relationship didn’t work out. In 2016, Kristel left her first husband and moved with her daughter, Amaya, to Cleveland, Ohio, to live with her grandmother in a three-bedroom home. A few years later, Kristel’s parents joined them in Cleveland.
Kristel had a bachelor’s degree in education. In 2019, she began working as an instructional aide at Hope Academy Northeast during the 2019-2020 school year, and later as a substitute teacher at Citizens Academy Glenville in the fall of 2020; a job she maintained up until her arrest.
In 2020, Kristel met Jailyn’s father, Henry Garcia, on Facebook. Although Henry lived in Ecuador, Kristel and Henry began a long distance relationship. Kristel eventually traveled to Ecuador to meet Henry in person. The relationship was going well enough that Kristel, Henry and Amaya soon thereafter went on vacation to the Dominican Republic.
When Kristel and Amaya returned to Cleveland, Kristel learned she was pregnant. Henry was unable to come to the U.S. due to problems with his Visa, so the couple maintained contact via phone, frequently sharing photos and updates. Kristel returned to Ecuador a few times thereafter, but what began as a good relationship became toxic and unstable. Kristel and Henry often broke up and reconnected. Despite their fragmented relationship, Henry was excited about the birth of Jailyn and even “attended” the birth via FaceTime.
Kristel relied heavily on her parents to take care of her two children. However, it was after Jailyn’s birth that Kristel began leaving her daughter alone and unattended when possible. It was something that happened so frequently, that neighbors—whom Kristel often left Jailyn with—confronted her about leaving her toddler alone and asked her to stop. When Kristel’s parents weren’t available, she seemingly left Jailyn with anyone who offered to take her, regardless of whether she knew them well or not—and that’s where this story begins.
At the trial, discussed below, Kristel’s mother said she was raised in a home with values, morals, emphasis on love and family, and focus on emotional skills.
What (and How) Could a Mother Abandon and Neglect her Daughter?
Jailyn Candelario. Photo from FindAGrave.
Kristel’s parents, who were vacationing with her 7-year-old daughter in Ecuador, were allegedly not aware that Kristel was on vacation—despite Kristel shamelessly posting Facebook photos throughout her trip. Her parents left on June 4, 2023.
Sun., June 4, 2023
Kristel’s parents leave for Ecuador with her eldest daughter. That same day, Kristel leaves for Detroit, Michigan, to meet with a love interest identified as “David.” She has a late breakfast at Denny’s in Taylor, Michigan, at 11:29 am. In the meantime, she leaves Jailyn alone, at home, for two days while she’s in Michigan.
Tues., June 6, 2023
Kristel returns home to Cleveland, Ohio and her daughter Jailyn, though she does not stay for long. That day, she is seen on surveillance putting luggage into her car and, once again, driving away from the home—this time to join a different man and friends in Puerto Rico on June 8. She leaves for Michigan again at 5:24 pm, where she stays for two days with “David” before leaving for Puerto Rico. Jailyn is left home alone in her Pack ‘n Play.
Thurs., June 8, 2023
Kristel leaves for Puerto Rico on Spirit Airlines. While in Puerto Rico, she later claims to have been angry and distracted, to the point where it was noticeable to others. Some of her friends asked about Jailyn, to which Kristel responded, “She’s fine.” At times, she thought about calling relatives and asking them to check on Jailyn, but never once did she make a single phone call for her daughter’s wellbeing. One phone call could have saved Jailyn’s life.
Fri., June 9, 2023
A neighbor’s ring camera catches Jailyn crying at 1 am.
Mon., June 12, 2023
Kristel returns to Cleveland, Ohio, but heads directly to Michigan from the airport to reunite with David. She spends June 12 to June 15 in Michigan, without picking up Jailyn or, at the very least, stopping to check on her.
Fri., June 16, 2023, 7:36 am
Kristel returns to Cleveland and discovers Jailyn is deceased. She calls 9-1-1 some 10 minutes later, but only after dressing Jailyn in clean clothes. On the call, she screams for help.
When police arrive, Kristel’s demeanor completely changes. She is calm and composed. She tells police that Jailyn was refusing to eat all week, but slept as she normally did—for about 12 hours; something that is not typical for a 16-month-old. She claimed Jailyn vomited on June 12 and June 13 (when Kristel was in Michigan) and that she gave her daughter Tylenol; again, something that would not help a vomiting toddler.
Detective Teresa Gomez of CPD described Jailyn’s condition as severely dehydrated. Her eyes were sunken and wide open. She had feces in her mouth, underneath her fingernails and on the soles of her feet. Her lips were dried and cracked. There was a green discoloration on her abdomen, indicating that she was deceased for two to three days at the time of discovery. She also had scratches on her face, which were presumed to be self-inflicted.
Dr. Elizabeth Mooney, the forensic examiner; later told the court that Jailyn’s body showed signs of consuming its own fat as a means of survival and her organs indicated high stress levels. Jailyn had suffered kidney failure and her body was in ketoacidosis, which likely led to coma and ultimately death.
Dr. Elizabeth Mooney also explained in court that children are born with the natural response to cry when they are hungry and therefore uncomfortable. She stated that babies between the ages of nine months to 18 months experience the highest levels of separation anxiety. Jailyn was most certainly in a state of sheer terror, brought about by caregiver abandonment and coupled with a lack of food and drink for a prolonged period of time. Her death was slow and painful.
After speaking with investigators, Kristel was apparently so distraught that she returned to Michigan to be with her boyfriend. When her boyfriend discovered what happened to Jailyn, he was allegedly unable to eat, but not Kristel; she had no problem eating as normal.
Kristel’s “Reasoning”
In several interviews held in the aftermath of her prison sentence, Kristel attributed her actions to her deteriorating mental health, which allegedly reached an all-time low in January 2023.
In January and February 2023, Kristel was hospitalized twice due to “emotional and mental problems.” She claimed to suffer from headaches, numbness, and facial drooping. During one of those instances, she claimed to have been suicidal and unable to walk for nearly two weeks.
A series of tests were run and Kristel was given an anti-seizure medication through an IV drip; however, results indicated nothing was wrong neurologically. She was prescribed antidepressants, though she didn’t fully understand what the medication was for. She allegedly took the medication as directed, but returned to the hospital in March, claiming to have run out. Her doctor stated that she should have had more than enough medication left. Tests were run again and doctors determined that anxiety and stress were to blame for the physical manifestations she experienced. The doctors prescribed her more antidepressants and a medication for trouble sleeping. When the medications ran out, Kristel simply stopped taking them.
Nonetheless, also in March 2023, Kristel felt well enough to plan a vacation with one of her then-boyfriends.
A photo of Kristel Candelario taken three days into her 10-day vacation and posted to Facebook. The photo was captioned: “The time that is enjoyed is the true time lived.” Credit: Facebook.
In regards to the vacation, Kristel allegedly told her ex-boyfriend that she would leave Jailyn with her mother. She denied purchasing travel tickets with plans to leave her daughter unattended, but rather, “because of her mental state.” She claimed to have taken only four items with her and impulsively leaving her home.
Nonetheless, even after her arrest, Kristel didn’t seem to comprehend that Jailyn should have been her first priority. She talked with other inmates about future plans for after her release. She even had a phone call with a friend on November 26, 2023, during which she spoke about how much fun she had in Puerto Rico, joked about them renting a truck vs. a car, which was more expensive, and gossiped about another woman on the trip who spent money freely. There was no mention of Jailyn.
On January 6, 2024, Kristel had another jailhouse phone call with her mother. The conversation focused on God and His forgiveness. During the conversation, Kristel attempted to explain her actions by stating it was unintentional. She also said, “It’s not like I picked up a gun or a bat or the girl bled or something”—referring to her daughter as “the girl.”
Not the First Instance of Neglect
The trip resulting in Jailyn’s death was not the first time Kristel neglected her daughter.
A prior babysitter, identified only as Carol, has stated that Kristel was especially careless about Jailyn’s care. If Carol called Kristel to ask when she planned to return home, Kristel repeatedly said, “Five minutes,” though hours would pass before she actually returned with little explanation.
In August 2022, Jailyn introduced herself to neighbors Iris and her daughter Suleym, 13, for the first time, while also asking if they could watch Jailyn for the weekend. A weekend request ultimately turned into six weeks. Iris called Kristel repeatedly to ask when she planned to return and to send money for milk; requests that Kristel largely ignored or made excuses for. Kristel was gone for so long that Jailyn began calling Iris, “Mama.” Suleym said she loved Jailyn like a sister. The mother and daughter watched Jailyn on several occasions afterwards.
Despite concerns throughout the neighborhood and Kristel’s continuous habit of leaving Jailyn with near-strangers for hours, days or weeks, Child Protective Services was never called.
The Investigation and Trial
The case was investigated by CPD’s Homicide Unit. Detectives looked through 648 hours of Ring camera footage as part of the investigation. Dr. Elizabeth Mooney performed the autopsy and presumed that Jailyn died seven to eight days into Kristel’s 10-day vacation. Jailyn died of extreme dehydration and starvation due to parental neglect. At her time of death, she weighed just 13 lbs., having weighed 20 lbs. at her most recent doctor visit.
Detective TJ Powell, the lead detective, said this was the most horrific case he’d seen during his 17 years with the CPD. Medical professionals and other law enforcement involved echoed this sentiment. Detective Powell even wrote a poem for Jailyn, which he shared at her trial:
“J is for the justice that will be received today.
“A is for the angel wings she earned on that dreadful day.
“I is for the incremental repetitious buildup of suspense for a death that clearly makes no sense.
“L is for the lack of love while alone for 11 days.
“Y is for a young life that was taken away.
“N is for the new eternal life Jailyn gained on that day.
“No child should ever have to die this way.“
The District Attorney (DA) reached out to extended family members of Jailyn on several occasions for information, but received no response. It appeared that Jailyn’s family was more interested in protecting Kristel than Jailyn, and would not provide statements or contribute to the case. Among the only family members that spoke out was Olga Torres, Kristel’s aunt, who stated that Kristel’s mother was Jailyn’s main caregiver and that she was unsure who would have cared for Jailyn in her absence. Her and Kristel weren’t on speaking terms, so Kristel wouldn’t have asked her for help, though it was available if Kristel needed it.
During the trial, Kristel’s attorney, Derek Smith, argued that Kristel wasn’t thinking clearly as a result of stopping her antidepressants without guidance from doctors. It was obvious there was a difficult road ahead of him with this trial, without much evidence to support his client’s behavior.
Kristel’s parents asked the judge to have mercy on their daughter. Fortunately, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Brendan Sheehan did not have mercy on Kristel. In court, he gave the following closing remarks:
“The bond between a mother and a child is one of the most purest and most sacred bonds between human beings. It’s a relationship built on love, trust, and unwavering protection. Yet, in a shocking betrayal of this fundamental trust, you committed the ultimate act of betrayal:leaving your baby terrified, alone, unprotected, to suffer what I heard was the most gruesome death imaginable with no food, no water, no protection, and lying in her own feces.
“Ms. Candelario, you know the responsibility of parenthood. You already have another child. You raised another child. I’ve witnessed here, before me,your parents, who showed you love and respect and education. They came here to help you advocate for you—more than you’ve done for your own child. The evidence that I’ve witnessed here before this court shows at this time you simply chose not to be here because you wanted to have fun. You decided you needed a vacation. What followed was an absolute act of depravity.
“You left your baby, Jailyn, trapped in a Pack ‘n Play withoutfood and water for 10 days. This wasn’t simply an oversight. You could have saved Jailyn’s life many times. You could have found someone to watch her while you were gone. You could have taken her with you while you were in Detroit or to Puerto Rico. You could have called someone in Cleveland and told them that Jailyn needed help.
“Despite all the suffering, that little baby persevered, waiting for someone to save her, and you could have done that with a simple phone call. Instead, I see photos of you on the beach while your child was eating her own feces in an attempt to survive. Photos mean something and I’m well aware of mental health, but it doesn’t look like you were too concerned about your child.”
“Just as you didn’t let Jailyn out of her confinement until she died, so should you spend the rest of your life in a cell without freedom. The only difference is that prison will at least feed you and give you liquids that you denied her.”
Jailyn’s manner of death was ruled as homicide, due to parental neglect and failure to properly support and care for another person that was dependent on them. In March 2024, Kristel was pleaded guilty and was sentenced to aggravated murder in connection with the death of her daughter, Jailyn, and endangering children. She is currently serving her sentence at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. She intends to appeal her sentence.
In response to her actions, Kristel stated:
“There’s so much pain that I have in regards to the loss of my baby, Jailyn…I’m extremely hurt about everything that happened. I am not trying to justify my actions, but nobody knew how much I was suffering and what I was going through … God and my daughter have forgiven me.”
My 2 Cents
I chose to research this case to call attention to Jailyn Candelario’s life, but the more I read, the more angry I became. I’m not a mental health expect or someone with experience in the justice system. I am, however, a professional in the field of communications and most importantly, a mother. Becoming a mother requires the maternity and sense to know that you cannot live on your own timeline anymore. Life will not always be that way, but when you have young children, it is.
Kristel Candelario uses mental illness as a way to describe her actions, which I believe is an abuse of the term. I think her actions were taken purely out of selflessness. Someone with raging anxiety and/or depression that compromises their ability to function and causes physical symptoms does not experience a sudden lapse in symptoms when leaving for vacation. Her mental illness flair seems to conveniently work for the story she concocted.
This instance also wasn’t the first time she left Jailyn alone but it was the most severe because it resulted in death. However, Kristel left Jailyn alone with near-strangers on many occasions and didn’t return for days, weeks and, in one instance, 1.5 months. She met a neighbor for the first time and simultaneously shoved her daughter into their arms, asked them to watch her, and took off. Jailyn could have been placed into the hands of abusers at any moment. If something so severe didn’t happen, Kristel would have continued leaving Jailyn alone. It was only a matter of time before something terrible happened.
After Kristel was arrested, she still acted like she wouldn’t receive a harsh sentence. She made future plans and she reminisced with friends on the phone about her vacation—during which her daughter died. There is an obvious disconnect between Kristel’s beliefs about Jailyn’s death. She seems unable to take accountability and to also feel she’s entitled to forgiveness. In fact, she’s so entitled that she provides a statement declaring that God and Jailyn have forgiven her; a statement that’s completely outlandish.
What I see here is immaturity, selfishness, entitlement and perhaps some narcissism. Kristel felt entitled to take a vacation and have a break. She felt her actions weren’t terrible because they weren’t “intentional,” even though her daughter died as a direct result of her own choices. I think she wanted to live on her own timeline and didn’t want the responsibility of caring for a child, so she did what she could to evade that responsibility. As a result, I think she received the sentence she deserved and she’s in the right place considering her actions. She failed her daughter terribly and must pay for it.
Rest in peace, Jailyn. You deserved so much better.
Mama Talks Crime 