Authorities accuse the parents of infant Emmanuel Haro of staging a kidnapping, now facing charges of murder, according to their statements.
In a dramatic turn of events, the parents of baby Emmanuel Haro, Rebecca Haro (41) and Jake Haro (32), were arrested on suspicion of murder on Friday. The arrests took place at their home in Cabazon, California.
The investigation into the disappearance of Emmanuel began on August 14, when Rebecca Haro reported her baby missing under suspicious circumstances. However, she later gave statements to investigators that contradicted each other, and when confronted with these inconsistencies, she stopped speaking with them.
The Sheriff's Department claims that the couple faked the story about their son being kidnapped. In support of this claim, investigators and police dogs searched the family home over the weekend, taking four items: two iPads, three Xbox video game consoles, and their vehicle. A 2-year-old child was also removed from the Haro home by Riverside County child protective services, but the reason for this action is unclear.
The arrests occurred after armored vehicles rammed down their front gate, and a crowd gathered near the family's home on Ramona Street. Bystanders jeered Vincent Hughes, the attorney representing Jake Haro, as he left the family home. Hughes stated that the Haro family wants people to put in the same effort to search for Emmanuel as they are using to question them.
Jake Haro was convicted in June 2023 of willful child cruelty for an incident involving another child in Hemet. He is due to appear in court on Sept. 2 for a violation of his probation. Emmanuel Haro is presumed dead, and a search for his remains is ongoing.
Some people who gathered were from out of state, including Jimmy Williams, a YouTube videographer from Chesapeake, Va., who arrived to follow the case. A small memorial set up for Emmanuel near the home had drawn about 50 people. Kimberly Govea, who was wearing a black T-shirt that said, "Where's the baby?", attended a vigil outside the Haro home.
Vincent Hughes, representing Jake Haro, stated that the family was still cooperating, and Rebecca Haro had only refused to take a polygraph when it was requested by law enforcement. The Sheriff's Department has served multiple search warrants at the Haro family home and is reviewing surveillance footage from areas of interest in the case.
As the investigation continues, the community and the wider public are left waiting for answers and hoping for justice for baby Emmanuel.
