Parents who killed Emmanuel Haro accused of abuse: Cops
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Left inset: Emmanuel Haro (San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department). Right inset: Emmanuel Haro’s parents, Rebecca and Jake Haro, speaking about his alleged kidnapping (KTLA/YouTube). Background: Rebecca Haro being arrested by San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025 (KABC/YouTube).

The parents of 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro — who they claimed was kidnapped during a diaper change in a California parking lot — were arrested Friday and charged with his murder, just one day after cops launched a separate child abuse investigation against them.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is allegedly investigating a report of child abuse tied to Rebecca Haro, 41, and Jake Haro, 32, who are accused of killing Emmanuel and hiding his body somewhere, with authorities still searching for the boy’s remains as of Sunday, according to local reports. Riverside County Sheriff’s Lt. Deirdre Vickers told The Orange County Register on Saturday night that deputies were sent to a home in the 23000 block of Cottonwood Avenue in Moreno Valley on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 21, after receiving a report of abuse related to the Haro’s.

The couple reportedly has two other kids, including a 2-year-old. The youths are now in the custody of child protection services.

“Investigators responded to the location regarding the allegations, and the investigation remains ongoing,” Vickers told the Register.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department reports that the Haro’s were arrested Friday after “numerous interviews” were conducted with them; search warrants served; digital and electronic evidence collected and “closely analyzed;” and witness testimony all pointed to a kidnapping that “did not occur,” according to officials.

Rebecca Haro allegedly told authorities she had been in Yucaipa at a football stadium with Emmanuel and her other children for youth football activities before his disappearance. She said she went to a Big 5 Sporting Goods store to buy a mouth guard for another one of her kids when the alleged kidnapper set upon them and physically attacked her, leaving her with a bruised black eye that can be seen in local media interviews.

The kidnapping report led to a massive local search, with the national Uvalde Foundation group — which helps out local law enforcement with independent searches for missing children through its “Lost Student Initiative” — taking part to try and find Emmanuel, along with police. As time went on, though, searchers and investigators began to find alleged “inconsistencies” with the mom’s story.

One of the biggest issues: an alleged “eyewitness report” that said the mother lied about the black eye she claims to have suffered during the kidnapping.

“We are receiving information that Emmanuel was not even reported to have been seen at the football game the mother alleged they were all at,” the Uvalde Foundation for Kids told Law&Crime last week after suspending its independent search for Emmanuel due to the alleged “inconsistencies.”

The group allegedly received “an eyewitness report that the mother’s apparent bruise acquired during the attack at the Big 5 was in fact acquired previous to the incident,” according to foundation officials. The group shared Facebook posts with Law&Crime on Monday showing purported workers at the Big 5 store who alleged that Haro didn’t have a child with her that day.

“It is believed Emmanuel is deceased and the search to recover his remains is ongoing,” the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office said in a press release. “While these arrests mark a significant development, our focus remains on finding Emmanuel.”

Rebecca Haro claimed Emmanuel was taken on Aug. 14, at around 7:45 p.m., with deputies being dispatched to the Big 5 at 34579 Yucaipa Blvd around this time. “I got him out of the car seat, and I laid him down so I can get his diaper ready” she told local ABC affiliate KABC in a joint interview with Jake Haro, who has a prior criminal conviction for felony child cruelty.

“I was going to get the diaper and somebody said, ‘Hola,’ and I didn’t see nothing,” Rebecca said in another sit-down with Jake and The CW affiliate KTLA from the parking lot of the Big 5 where she claimed everything happened.

“I woke up right here on the floor, and I didn’t see Emmanuel,” Rebecca claimed. She told KABC, “As soon as I got up, I couldn’t find my son. I checked all around my truck. And I ran into Big 5, and I asked the lady if she saw a baby or someone with a baby. She said no.” Jake added, “He’s just a baby. Just give our son back, please.”

Police officials said that after further investigation, cops were “unable to rule out foul play” — causing the Haro’s to not cooperate anymore.

“We cannot in good conscience, utilize our team and resources when so much is missing in this case,” explained Uvalde Foundation founder Daniel Chapin in a statement last week before the Haro’s were arrested. “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.”

Chapin added, “Something is not right in this whole picture.”

Local court records show that Jake Haro was convicted in June 2023 of felony willful child cruelty in connection to a 2018 arrest in Hemet. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 48 months of probation, and is scheduled to appear at a Sept. 2 hearing for an alleged probation violation, KABC reports.

The Register reports that Jake was with a different spouse at the time, Vanessa Haro, who hospitalized her infant daughter with broken bones as a result of the abuse. Jake was ordered to attend a child abuser treatment program, the local newspaper reports. Vanessa Haro pleaded guilty and got 120 days in a work-release program.

Online records show the Haro’s were being held Sunday with no bail in Riverside County. The couple is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.

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