Baby likely died from abuse before parents reported him missing,
prosecutor says
[August 28, 2025]
By AMY TAXIN
A 7-month-old baby likely died from abuse by his parents before they
made a false report that he was abducted, authorities said Wednesday.
Southern California prosecutors and sheriff's authorities said they
believe Emmanuel Haro was abused by his father Jake Haro, 32; and
mother, Rebecca Haro, 41, who were arrested last week and have been
charged with his murder.
The abuse allegations come amid a search for Emmanuel in the inland
region east of Los Angeles. It began after Rebecca Haro reported on Aug.
14 that she was assaulted and left unconscious while changing her son’s
diaper outside a store in the San Bernardino County community of
Yucaipa. She said she awoke to find him missing.
"The filing in this case reflects our belief that baby Emmanuel was
abused, a victim of child abuse over time, and that eventually, because
of that abuse, he succumbed to those injuries,” Riverside County
District Attorney Mike Hestrin told reporters.
The couple is being held on $1 million bail each. They are scheduled to
be arraigned next week.
Messages seeking comment were left Tuesday for the lawyer listed as
representing them in online court records.
Authorities said they found inconsistencies in the mother's account.
They searched the couple's home in the Riverside County community of
Cabazon and arrested the Haros on Friday, announcing they believed the
boy was dead.
[to top of second column]
|
This combo of booking photos provided by the San Bernardino County,
Calif., Sheriff's Department, shows Rebecca Haro, left, and Jake
Haro, who are charged with murder in the death of their missing
7-month-old son. (San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department via AP)
Over the weekend, sheriff’s deputies searched for the boy’s remains in a
field by a freeway in the presence of Jake Haro, who authorities said
provided some cooperation. The boy’s body was not found and no
additional information was provided about that search.
Hestrin said Jake Haro should have been sentenced to prison time after
he pleaded guilty in open court in 2023 to abusing another one of his
children in 2018. The girl suffered rib and skull fractures, a brain
hemorrhage and other injuries that caused permanent damage, Hestrin
said.
He said the prosecution asked the judge to sentence Haro to prison at
that time, but instead he was allowed to serve 180 days of work release,
plus probation.
“It was an outrageous error in judgment by this judge,” Hestrin said.
Travis Trapp, a spokesperson for the Riverside County Superior Court,
declined to comment.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
