Baby Emmanuel Haro May Have Been Dead A Week Before Parents' Fake Kidnapping Report, Police Say

A California couple has been arrested and charged with murder following the disappearance of their 7-month-old son, Emmanuel Haro. Police now believe the infant is dead, though his body has not been found.

On 14 August, Rebecca Haro phoned police claiming Emmanuel had been abducted from a shopping centre car park in Riverside County. Her account described a terrifying snatch-and-grab scenario that immediately triggered an Amber Alert across California. For hours, highways and neighbourhoods were checked, helicopters circled and neighbours volunteered to search.

Yet within days, cracks began to show. Investigators noted inconsistencies between Rebecca's statement and the evidence gathered at the scene, raising further doubts. Police, once working against the clock to rescue a child thought to be in danger, shifted focus to the Haros themselves. Detectives began to suspect Emmanuel may have already been dead before the report was made.

The Arrests

On 22 August, just over a week after the Amber Alert was issued, detectives arrested Rebecca and her husband, Jake Haro, at their home in Cabazon, California. Both were charged with murder in connection with Emmanuel's disappearance. The couple, in their twenties, remain in custody in Riverside County and have not entered pleas.

Authorities have not disclosed exactly how they believe Emmanuel died, nor what evidence led them to file murder charges. However, Riverside County Sheriff's investigators said the available information pointed directly to the parents.

Prosecutors allege the Haros fabricated the kidnapping to mislead police and conceal the truth. By triggering a false Amber Alert, prosecutors say, the couple diverted resources and deceived the community into believing a stranger abduction had occurred.

Detectives are continuing to review surveillance recordings, digital data and phone records to establish an accurate timeline. They are also re-interviewing witnesses who may have seen the family in the days leading up to the alleged abduction. While murder is the central charge, authorities have not ruled out additional counts.

Community Reaction and Next Steps

The case has stunned Cabazon and the wider Riverside County community. What began as a united search for a missing baby has turned into a painful reckoning for residents who initially rallied around the Haros. Now, many are planning vigils in Emmanuel's memory, leaving flowers, candles and soft toys at community centres.

Local advocacy groups say the case highlights once again how vulnerable children can be within their own homes. 'This tragedy is a reminder that the warning signs of abuse or neglect cannot be ignored', one child welfare worker told local media.

Riverside County Sheriff's officials confirmed the search for Emmanuel's remains continues in surrounding desert and wooded areas. 'We believe this child is deceased', investigators said in a public statement. 'Our focus is on finding answers and securing justice'.

As the case moves through the courts, prosecutors are expected to push for a full accounting of what happened in the week between Emmanuel's disappearance and the arrests. For now, a community that once hoped for a safe recovery is left mourning a baby whose short life ended under circumstances still unclear.