In a heartbreaking development, officials from San Bernardino and Riverside County are addressing the presumed death of baby Emmanuel Haro, just one day after his parents were charged with murder. Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin, along with Sheriff Chad Bianco and San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus, provided critical details during a news conference held on Wednesday. The investigation reveals a tragic timeline of suspected abuse leading to the infant's presumed death.
Authorities have yet to recover the remains of the 7-month-old baby, but District Attorney Hestrin indicated that they possess strong evidence concerning the location of Emmanuel's remains. Hestrin emphasized that the investigation suggests the baby suffered ongoing abuse at the hands of his parents, ultimately leading to fatal injuries. "It's appropriate to have a press conference, because it was the defendants in this case that had a press conference first," Hestrin stated, referring to the parents’ earlier claims that their child had been kidnapped.
Emmanuel's mother, Rebecca Haro, previously alleged that she was attacked in a Big 5 parking lot in Yucaipa on August 14, reporting that her baby had been kidnapped. However, shortly after her public statements, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department revealed that both Rebecca and her husband, Jake Haro, had ceased cooperating with investigators. Eyewitnesses noted the suspicious nature of Jake’s comments about his son, whom he referred to in the past tense.
In an interview with Eyewitness News on August 15, Jake described Emmanuel as "a healthy baby" who was crawling, kicking, and playing with his toys. The couple was arrested at their home in Cabazon last week as the investigation intensified.
During the news conference, DA Hestrin highlighted a concerning aspect of Jake Haro's history. Two years prior, Jake pleaded guilty to child abuse involving another child from a previous relationship, also an infant. Shockingly, he did not serve prison time; instead, the judge opted for probation and a minimal community service requirement. Hestrin criticized this decision as an "outrageous error in judgment," suggesting that had the judge acted appropriately, Emmanuel might still be alive today.
Both parents appeared in court on Tuesday, represented by public defenders, for a brief hearing that lasted less than five minutes. Each parent has been assigned a bail of $1 million, and their arraignment is set to continue on September 4. In addition to murder charges, they face allegations of making a false police report. Currently, Rebecca is being held at the Robert Presley Detention Center, while Jake is at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility, as per jail records.
This tragic case continues to unfold, raising serious questions about child protection and the judicial system's role in preventing such devastating outcomes.
