Introduction to the Case
The parents of missing 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro were arrested on suspicion of murder at their Cabazon home Friday morning, Aug. 22, more than a week after the baby’s mother reported that he was kidnapped, authorities said.
Video from the scene shows several law enforcement vehicles, including two armored vehicles, outside the home of Jake and Rebecca Haro, who initially told investigators that Emmanuel was stolen from Rebecca Haro outside a Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Yucaipa.
Initial Investigation and Inconsistencies
Rebecca Haro stopped cooperating with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department when investigators found inconsistencies in her story, authorities said. But her lawyer, Vincent Hughes, has denied that the couple was not cooperating.
“Investigators will continue their search for seven-month-old Emmanuel Haro,” the sheriff’s department posted on social media Friday morning.
Reaction from the Community and Previous Incidents
“Innocent until proven guilty. We’ll figure it out when this case starts to move forward,” Hughes told reporters near the Haros’ home following their arrests.
Kim Govea and Mike Lira Sr. of Redlands said on Friday, Aug. 22 that they have been outside the Haros’ home demanding answers for four days. (Photo by Beau Yarbrough, SCNG)
A search warrant was later served at the home, leading detectives to seize electronic devices belonging to Jake Haro, including phones.
The Uvalde Foundation for Kids had offered a $5,000 reward for information on the whereabouts of the boy, but said the parents have not cooperated with them and the organization’s pleas “have been met with silence.”
The search comes almost four years after Jake Haro and an apparently different spouse, Vanessa Haro, were charged with willful child cruelty in Riverside County after an infant was found to have fresh and healing wounds that placed it in critical condition.
Previous Charges and Sentencing
According to an affidavit written by a Hemet police officer to obtain an arrest warrant, officers investigated a report that a 10-week-old girl had been admitted to Hemet Valley Hospital on Oct. 13, 2018, for treatment of broken bones.
They pleaded guilty to the charge on June 8, 2023.
Jake Haro was sentenced to 180 days in the sheriff’s work-release program, given a suspended four-year prison sentence and was ordered to attend a child abuser treatment program. Vanessa Haro was sentenced to 120 days in the work-release program and ordered to attend the child abuser treatment program.
Conclusion
The case of Emmanuel Haro’s disappearance is a complex and disturbing one, with the parents’ arrest on suspicion of murder marking a significant development. As the investigation continues, the community remains hopeful that justice will be served and that the truth about Emmanuel’s disappearance will be revealed.
FAQs
Q: What were the parents of Emmanuel Haro arrested for?
A: The parents, Jake and Rebecca Haro, were arrested on suspicion of murder.
Q: When did the mother report the baby missing?
A: The mother, Rebecca Haro, reported the baby missing on August 14, claiming he was kidnapped outside a Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Yucaipa.
Q: Have the parents cooperated with the investigation?
A: According to authorities, Rebecca Haro stopped cooperating with the investigation when inconsistencies were found in her story. However, her lawyer denies this.
Q: What is the current status of the search for Emmanuel Haro?
A: The search for Emmanuel Haro is ongoing, with investigators continuing to look for the missing baby.
Q: Do the parents have a history of child abuse?
A: Yes, Jake Haro and his previous spouse, Vanessa Haro, were charged with willful child cruelty in 2018 and pleaded guilty in 2023.
