Community members in the Inland Empire have joined the desperate search for the remains of baby Emmanuel Haro as detectives continue their investigation into the infant’s disappearance.
Although the 7-month-old’s body has not been found, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said investigators believe the baby is dead. Meanwhile, his parents are being held behind bars on suspicion of his murder.
The puzzling case began with a report from his parents, who said the baby was kidnapped in a parking lot earlier this month, and has since turned into a much grimmer investigation. Here’s a look at the timeline for Haro’s case.
Aug. 14 – Emmanuel is reported missing
Cabazon resident Rebecca Haro, 41, reported her son, Emmanuel, was kidnapped after she was attacked in the parking lot of a Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Yucaipa.
According to the mother, she and the infant were in the area for another son’s youth sports competition before the alleged attack occurred. At 7:47 p.m., Rebecca was assaulted from behind while changing her son’s diaper, she reported.
“I noticed a smell from my baby, so I wanted to change him before going into the store,” she said. “I took him out of the car seat and I laid him on the chair. I had his diapers right here and someone said, ‘Hola.’ I couldn’t turn and I don’t remember nothing. I got up from the floor and didn’t see my child. Someone took him from me.”
Aug. 16 – Foul play considered
SBSD said investigators couldn’t rule out the possibility of foul play in the infant’s disappearance.
Sheriff’s deputies said Rebecca was “confronted with inconsistencies in her initial statement and declined to continue with the interview.” She, along with Emmanuel’s father, 32-year-old Jake Haro, were interviewed by law enforcement as part of the investigation.
An investigation continues for 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro who has been missing for one week. Amber Frias reports for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025.
Aug. 17 – Toddler from Haro household taken into protective custody
Detectives visited the home of the Haro family as part of their investigation. With the investigation ongoing, the 2-year-old sibling of Emmanuel was taken into custody by Riverside County Child Protective Services, according to the sheriff’s department.
As the case continued, law enforcement brought to light Jake’s criminal history. In 2021, the father was convicted of cruelty to a child and in 2024, he was convicted of being a felon in possession of a handgun.
An arrest warrant was filed for Jake in the child cruelty case involving a baby girl. Authorities responded to his home after the girl was admitted to a hospital with multiple broken bones. According to the court documents, the man told investigators he accidentally dropped the child on a sink as he bathed her. Doctors reported rib and skull fractures and a brain hemorrhage, according to the court documents.
As investigators spoke with the father in connection with Emmanuel’s case, community members in the Inland Empire gathered in the parking lot of the Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Yucaipa where the baby was reportedly kidnapped. With candles in hand, residents prayed for the safe return of the infant.
Aug. 20 – Infant’s father’s vehicle seized by detectives
Law enforcement seized a car belonging to the infant’s father as part of their investigation. They did not detail why they took the vehicle.
Additionally, officials received reports from people who said they spotted the baby in Kern County.
“We know the community is deeply concerned about this case and we will continue to provide information, to the extent it does not jeopardize the investigation,” the agency said. “Our investigators have followed up on the reported sightings of 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro, but he has not yet been located.
“While Emmanuel’s father has retained an attorney, if the parents choose to work with detectives, we welcome their cooperation as we continue efforts to locate Emmanuel.”
Community members in Cabazon held a vigil in honor of 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro who has been missing since last week. This morning his parents were arrested. Darsha Philips reports for NBC4 at 11 p.m. on August 22, 2025.
Aug. 22 – Parents arrested
Both Jake and Rebecca Haro were arrested on suspicion of murder at their Cabazon home, SBSD said.
In an updated statement, the department shared why the parents were suspected of such a grim crime.
“During the investigation thus far, numerous interviews have been conducted, search warrants have been served, digital and electronic evidence has been collected and closely analyzed. Based on the evidence, investigators determined a kidnapping in Yucaipa did not occur,” the agency said in a statement. “It is believed Emmanuel is deceased and the search to recover his remains is ongoing.”
A family attorney issued the following in response to the arrests:
“Innocent until proven guilty,” he said. “We’ll figure it out once this case starts moving forward.”
Aug. 24 – Investigators, joined by father, search for remains off 60 Freeway
Investigators carried out a search for what they believe will be the remains of the infant.
They combed along the westbound shoulder of the 60 Freeway in Moreno Valley, near Gilman Springs Road. Search and rescue crews were aided by cadaver dogs.
Jake, sporting an orange jumpsuit, was seen at the site with investigators.
Jake and Rebecca Haro made their first court appearance. Christian Cazares reported for the NBC4 News at 3 p.m. on Tuesday Aug. 26, 2025.
Aug. 26 – Parents charged with murder
Both Jake and Rebecca Haro were charged with murder and making a false report to law enforcement officers, the Riverside County Superior Court showed.
Arraignment for the parents was scheduled for the same day, but was continued to Sept. 4 since the couple’s public defender said there was limited information.
Aug. 27 – County officials allege baby was victim of abuse
Baby Emmanuel was described as a victim of “child abuse over time” who eventually “succumbed to those injuries,” according to Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin.
Hestrin was joined by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus in a press conference to deliver updates on the case. Dicus doubled down on his department’s belief that the parents fabricated the kidnapping report
“Forensically, there are a number of things that we were able to prove up,” Dicus said. “There is a tremendous amount of evidence that suggests the initial story posed was not the correct story.”
The sheriff added that he was unable to go into further details.
Hestrin said law enforcement has a “pretty strong indication of where the remains of baby Emmanuel are.”