The parents of seven-month-old Emmanuel Haro have been arrested on suspicion of murder as police continue searching for the missing baby’s remains in a case that has shocked Southern California communities.
Jake Haro, 32, and Rebecca Haro, 41, were taken into custody at their Cabazon home near Palm Springs on Friday morning after San Bernardino County Sheriff’s investigators determined that no kidnapping had occurred as the mother had initially claimed. Both parents were booked into a Riverside County jail without bail.
The arrests came eight days after Rebecca Haro reported that Emmanuel had been kidnapped during an attack outside a Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Yucaipa on 14 August. She claimed an unknown assailant knocked her unconscious whilst she was changing the baby’s nappy in the car park, and when she regained consciousness, her son was gone.
“I was going to get the diaper and somebody said, ‘Hola,’ and I don’t remember anything since,” Rebecca Haro told KTLA in tears last week. “I woke up here on the floor and I didn’t see Emmanuel.”
Investigation Reveals Inconsistencies in Mother’s Account
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s investigators quickly discovered troubling inconsistencies in Rebecca Haro’s version of events. When confronted with these discrepancies during interviews, she declined to continue cooperating with detectives, raising immediate red flags about the validity of her kidnapping claim.
“During those interviews, Rebecca was confronted with inconsistencies in her initial statement and declined to continue with the interview,” the sheriff’s office stated. The department subsequently announced it could not rule out foul play in Emmanuel’s disappearance.
The investigation intensified over the following days, with detectives serving multiple search warrants at the family’s Cabazon home. Cadaver dogs were brought in during weekend searches, and investigators seized Jake Haro’s vehicle as evidence on Tuesday. Authorities also reviewed extensive surveillance footage from the areas of interest but found no evidence supporting the kidnapping narrative.
“Based on the evidence, investigators determined a kidnapping in Yucaipa did not occur,” the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement Friday. “It is believed Emmanuel is deceased and the search to recover his remains is ongoing.”
Father’s Disturbing Criminal History Emerges
As the investigation unfolded, court records revealed Jake Haro’s troubling history with child abuse. Riverside County Superior Court documents show he pleaded guilty in June 2023 to felony child cruelty charges stemming from a 2018 arrest in Hemet.
The earlier case involved a 10-week-old baby girl who was hospitalised with multiple injuries including an acute fractured rib, healing fractures of six ribs, a skull fracture, brain haemorrhage, swelling of the neck, and a healing fractured leg bone. Jake Haro had claimed he accidentally dropped the infant whilst bathing her, an explanation that did not match the extent of the injuries.
He was sentenced to 180 days in jail through a work-release programme and 48 months of probation. At the time of Friday’s arrest, he was scheduled to appear in court in early September for an alleged probation violation.
Vincent Hughes, Jake Haro’s attorney, acknowledged the prior conviction but insisted the facts in Emmanuel’s case were “far different.” He told reporters: “They just want their son back, they want people to put in the same effort that they’re using to question them to go out and search for Emmanuel.”
Community Support Withdraws as Parents Stop Cooperating
The case initially drew widespread community support, with friends and family organising search efforts. The Uvalde Foundation for Kids offered a £4,000 ($5,000) reward for information leading to Emmanuel’s recovery. However, the organisation withdrew its support less than 24 hours later, citing concerns about the parents’ behaviour.
“We cannot in good conscience, utilise our team and resources when so much is missing in this case,” the foundation stated. Of particular concern to us lies within the inconsistencies in the details and the sudden decision by the mother to end communication with law enforcement and our team originally prepared to help. Tell me, what parent would do that who was missing a child?”
The foundation’s withdrawal proved prescient as investigators continued uncovering evidence that contradicted the kidnapping story. Multiple agencies, including teams from both San Bernardino and Riverside counties, had deployed K-9 units and helicopters in extensive searches that ultimately proved fruitless.
Sheriff Expresses Confidence in Justice System
San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus addressed the tragic circumstances in a statement following the arrests. “The circumstances surrounding this investigation are tragic and we will continue to search for Emmanuel,” Dicus said. “I trust our justice system will hold the parents accountable.”
The sheriff’s department emphasised that whilst the arrests marked a significant development, their primary focus remains on locating Emmanuel’s remains. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Homicide Detail and Specialised Enforcement Division continue to follow leads and conduct searches in both Yucaipa and Cabazon areas.
Family Background Reveals Pattern of Tragedy
Further investigation into the family’s background revealed additional concerning details. The couple has a two-year-old child who was immediately taken into protective custody by Riverside County Child Protective Services following the parents’ arrests.
News Channel 3 also confirmed that Rebecca Haro is the sister of James Beushausen, who was convicted in 2017 for the murder of his girlfriend in Palm Springs, adding another layer of tragedy to the family’s history.
Emmanuel’s grandmother, Mary Beushausen, had defended her daughter and son-in-law earlier in the week, insisting they would never hurt their grandchild. She told reporters that the sheriff’s department had asked Rebecca to take a lie detector test and that the couple had stopped answering their phones due to death threats.
Investigation Continues as Community Mourns
The community held a candlelight vigil for Emmanuel outside the Big 5 store in Yucaipa on Sunday night, before the parents’ arrests. The gathering reflected the widespread concern and hope that the baby might still be found alive.
Emmanuel was described as being approximately 24 inches tall, weighing about 21 pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes, and a cross-eyed condition. He was last seen wearing a black Nike onesie when he disappeared.
Authorities continue to urge anyone with information about Emmanuel’s whereabouts to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department at 909-387-8313 or the Sheriff’s Specialised Investigations Division at 909-890-4904. Anonymous tips can be submitted to We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463).
As the search for Emmanuel’s remains continues, the case serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the vulnerability of children and the importance of thorough investigations when inconsistencies arise in missing person cases. The swift action by San Bernardino County investigators potentially prevented the parents from evading justice, though it came too late to save young Emmanuel.
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