Authorities Say Ongoing Abuse Led to Death of Missing Baby
Authorities in Southern California say a 7-month-old baby boy who vanished more than a week ago is now believed to have died from ongoing abuse at the hands of his parents — and that the couple then staged a fake…
Authorities in Southern California say a 7-month-old baby boy who vanished more than a week ago is now believed to have died from ongoing abuse at the hands of his parents — and that the couple then staged a fake kidnapping to cover it up.
According to the Associated Press, Jake Haro, 32, and Rebecca Haro, 41, were arrested last week and formally charged with murder in connection with the disappearance of their infant son, Emmanuel Haro.
“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 during a press conference Wednesday.
The Haros remain in custody on $1 million bail each and are scheduled to be arraigned next week.
Authorities launched a search for Emmanuel after Rebecca Haro told investigators on Aug. 14 that she had been attacked and knocked unconscious while changing her son’s diaper outside a store in Yucaipa, a San Bernardino County community. She claimed she awoke to find her son missing.
But investigators say “inconsistencies” quickly emerged in her story. A deeper investigation led them to search the couple’s home in Cabazon and ultimately arrest them on Aug. 16, stating they believed the child was already deceased.
Over the weekend, deputies conducted a search for the boy’s remains in a field near a freeway. Officials say Jake Haro provided “some cooperation” during the effort. However, Emmanuel’s body has not yet been found, and authorities have not released further details about the search.