California parents of missing 7-month-old arrested, accused of murder

The parents of a Southern California baby, reported missing by his mother, have been arrested and accused of murder, authorities said Friday.

San Bernardino County sheriff’s homicide detectives arrested Jake Haro, 32, and Rebecca Haro, 41, at their home in Cabazon and booked them on suspicion of murder, according to the department.

Authorities believe their 7-month-old son, Emmanuel Haro, is dead, but the search for his remains is ongoing, the department said.

“While these arrests mark a significant development, our focus remains on finding Emmanuel,” the sheriff’s department said.

Deputies began looking for Emmanuel on Aug. 14 after his mother reported that he was kidnapped outside Big 5 Sporting Goods in Yucaipa, the department said.

Yucaipa is about 70 miles east of downtown Los Angeles

Rebecca Haro was later “confronted with inconsistencies in her initial statement and declined to continue with the interview,” deputies said in a Saturday statement.

She had originally told detectives that she was in her vehicle, changing Emmanuel’s diaper, when a man she didn’t know knocked her unconscious, officials said.

When she regained consciousness, the baby was gone, she allegedly told investigators.

The sheriff’s department said Friday that the evidence led investigators to determine no kidnapping occurred in Yucaipa.

“I trust our justice system will hold the parents accountable,” San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said in a statement.

Jake and Rebecca Haro were booked into a Riverside County jail and were being held without bail, the department said.

Jake Haro’s attorney could not be immediately reached for comment Friday. It is not immediately clear if Rebecca Haro had been assigned a lawyer or hired one to speak on her behalf.

Authorities are not searching for any other suspects.

The Uvalde Foundation For Kids had said it would conduct an independent search for the boy but canceled that and its $5,000 reward earlier this week.