Yucaipa, CA — Investigators are intensifying their search for Emmanuel Haro, a 7-month-old baby who was reported kidnapped from a Big 5 Sporting Goods parking lot in Yucaipa on August 14, 2024. New details about the case have raised more questions, leading authorities to focus on the child’s parents and their past.
Unsettling New Details Emerge
The search for Emmanuel gained momentum over the weekend after his mother, Rebecca Haro, initially told police that she had been attacked while changing her baby’s diaper outside her vehicle. She claimed that a man knocked her unconscious and, when she regained consciousness, Emmanuel was missing.
“When I woke up, the baby was gone,” Rebecca reportedly told authorities.
However, as the investigation unfolded, inconsistencies in Rebecca’s story began to surface, and both she and her husband, Jacob “Jake” Haro, stopped cooperating with detectives.
Home Searched, Parents Under Scrutiny
On Sunday, San Bernardino County sheriff’s investigators conducted a search of the Cabazon home of Rebecca and Jake Haro, assisted by K9 units. While authorities have not revealed what was recovered, they confirmed that the search is ongoing, and the couple’s involvement remains a focal point.
A spokesperson from the sheriff’s office said, “Investigators are continuing the search for Emmanuel and are looking into everything and everyone. Authorities have not ruled out foul play.”
In the aftermath of the inconsistencies in Rebecca’s story, detectives reportedly asked Rebecca to take a lie detector test, which she agreed to. Jake, however, refused to take the test until an attorney was present. Meanwhile, the couple’s 2-year-old child has been removed from their home by authorities pending the ongoing investigation.
Suspicious Past and Criminal History
The situation is further complicated by troubling revelations about Jake Haro’s criminal history. According to court records, Jake was convicted of willful child cruelty in 2023 after his infant daughter with a previous partner suffered severe injuries, including a skull fracture, brain hemorrhage, and broken ribs.
Doctors who treated the child stated that the injuries were “indicative of abuse head trauma, child physical abuse and nutritional neglect.”
Jake was sentenced to 180 days in a work-release program and ordered into a child abuser treatment program.
Family and Community Reactions
As authorities continue their investigation, family members have insisted that Rebecca and Jake would not harm their son. Emmanuel’s grandmother, Mary Beushausen, told KTLA that Rebecca had turned off her phone after receiving death threats, while Jake also refused to answer calls.
“The parents would never harm Emmanuel,” Beushausen said, speaking out in defense of her family.
Meanwhile, the Uvalde Foundation for Kids, which had offered a $5,000 reward for information about Emmanuel’s whereabouts, withdrew their support less than 24 hours later, citing “inconsistencies in the parents’ story.”
Investigators Continue Search for Emmanuel
As of Monday, investigators were back at the Haro property searching for clues. Emmanuel, who is described as weighing about 20 pounds, with light brown wavy hair, and was last seen wearing a black Nike onesie, remains missing.
“We are looking into everything and everyone at this point,” authorities stated.
No arrests have been made, and authorities have not announced any charges against the Haros.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department at (909) 387-3690.
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