CALIFORNIA (US): The parents of a missing seven-month-old boy have been charged with murder, with authorities believing the child is dead despite his body not being found. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office filed charges on Tuesday against Jake Haro (32) and Rebecca Haro (41) in connection with the death of their son, Emmanuel.
Charges and court proceedings
Along with murder, the couple has also been charged with filing a false police report, a misdemeanor offence. Both parents are being held on $1 million bail each. Their arraignment, scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed to September 4. Prosecutors have withheld additional details pending a press conference on Wednesday.
Disappearance and initial report
Rebecca Haro initially told authorities that she had been attacked and knocked unconscious while changing her son’s diaper outside a store in Yucaipa, San Bernardino County. She claimed that when she regained consciousness, Emmanuel was missing.
However, investigators found inconsistencies in her account and stated she later refused to cooperate. Authorities subsequently arrested both parents.
Search operations and investigation
Over the weekend, law enforcement searched the couple’s home in Cabazon, Riverside County, and nearby areas, including a freeway stretch, for the child’s body. Jake Haro was present during the search but was not officially assisting, according to officials.
Court records show Jake Haro had a previous conviction for child cruelty in 2023 and was ordered to attend a child abuse treatment program.
Family’s defence
In a recent jailhouse interview, Rebecca Haro claimed her husband would not harm a child and insisted she wanted to search for her son. The couple’s previous attorney, Vincent Hughes, had earlier stated he did not believe they were responsible for the disappearance.
Ongoing case
The investigation remains active as authorities gather further evidence. The District Attorney’s Office has promised more details at the upcoming press briefing.