MORENO VALLEY, Calif. — The tragic disappearance of 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro has taken a devastating turn. Prosecutors confirmed Monday that his parents, Rebecca Haro, 41, and Jake Haro, 32, have been formally charged with murder, along with filing a false police report, in connection with their infant son’s presumed death.
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office announced that both suspects are scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon. Jail records show Rebecca is being held at the Robert Presley Detention Center, while Jake is housed at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility. Both remain in custody without bail.
Emmanuel’s disappearance, reported nearly two weeks ago, initially prompted a widespread community search. The case first drew national attention when Rebecca Haro made a tearful public plea, claiming she had been assaulted in a Yucaipa parking lot on August 14 and that her baby had been abducted during the incident.
The following day, however, suspicions deepened when Jake Haro referred to his son in the past tense during a television interview, saying:
“He was a healthy baby. He was crawling. He was kicking. He was playing with his toys. He was a 7-month-old, he was our 7-month-old.”
Within days, investigators arrested both parents at their home in Cabazon, shifting the case from a missing person’s investigation to a suspected homicide.
Search Efforts in the Badlands
On Sunday, search teams with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, assisted by cadaver dogs, combed through rugged terrain along the 60 Freeway in the remote area known locally as the Badlands.
More than a dozen law enforcement vehicles were staged at the site, and Jake Haro—dressed in a red jail-issued jumpsuit—was present at the scene. While he accompanied deputies, officials clarified that he did not assist in the search.
After hours of scouring steep terrain, investigators departed without finding Emmanuel’s remains. Authorities later issued a statement:
“The search has concluded, and Emmanuel was not located. The investigation to find Emmanuel continues.”
Growing Memorial and Community Grief
Outside the Haro family’s Cabazon residence, a memorial for baby Emmanuel has grown steadily. Flowers, candles, and handwritten tributes now line the sidewalk as neighbors and strangers alike grapple with grief and outrage.
“He was just an innocent baby,” one mourner said. “This community feels broken right now. We wanted to believe he would be found safe.”
Troubling Past and Ongoing Investigations
Court records show that in 2018, Jake Haro pleaded guilty to willful cruelty to a child. Authorities have since linked the couple to additional reports of abuse.
Just last Thursday, Riverside County sheriff’s deputies responded to a child abuse call at a home on the 23000 block of Cottonwood Avenue in Moreno Valley—a location that investigators confirmed is connected to the Haro case.
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office now leads the homicide investigation after determining the alleged crime likely occurred within its jurisdiction.
Officials say detectives have executed multiple search warrants at the Haro home, analyzed surveillance video, and coordinated search operations in both Yucaipa and Cabazon.
A Community Left Searching for Answers
For now, Emmanuel’s body has not been recovered, and investigators stress that finding him remains their top priority.
“This case has shaken Moreno Valley to its core,” a law enforcement spokesperson said. “We are committed to uncovering the full truth and bringing justice for Emmanuel.”
As the legal process moves forward, Emmanuel’s name continues to echo through the community—a reminder of the tragic loss of a child whose short life touched so many hearts.
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