The search for a missing 7-month-old baby in California continued on Tuesday, as his mother, who said he was kidnapped outside of a store last week, has stopped cooperating with investigators, according to authorities.
Rebecca Haro said her infant son, Emmanuel Haro, was kidnapped on the evening of Aug. 14 outside of a Big 5 retail store in Yucaipa, Calif., the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said.
Haro said she was changing Emmanuel’s diaper outside her vehicle when a man assaulted her and knocked her unconscious, according to police. When she regained consciousness, she reported her son missing after she couldn’t find him.
“I got him out of the car seat and I laid him down so I could get his diapers ready, and somebody said ‘Hola’ and that’s all I remember, and I saw white,” Haro, with a bruise under her right eye that she says she got from the assault, recalled in tears to KABC-TV “I fell on the floor, and I said as I got up, I couldn’t find my son. I checked all around my truck, and I ran into Big 5, and I asked the lady if she saw a baby or someone with a baby. She said ‘no.’”
Deputies and K9 units from San Bernardino and Riverside counties responded at 7:47 p.m. local time on Aug. 14, but despite an extensive search, Emmanuel was not found, authorities said.
An Amber Alert wasn’t issued after the alleged kidnapping because there were no suspect or vehicle descriptions. “I’m begging you. If you know anything, please, I’m begging you to bring him back,” Haro told KCAL on Saturday, as she and family members were gathered in the parking lot of the Big 5 to hand out missing persons fliers.
Emmanuel weighs around 21 pounds and is 24 inches long, according to investigators. He has brown hair, brown eyes, is cross-eyed and was last seen wearing a black Nike onesie.
Here’s what else we know so far about the case.
Inconsistencies in Rebecca Haro’s statement
Investigators have interviewed multiple people, including Emmanuel’s parents, Jake and Rebecca Haro.
“During those interviews, Rebecca was confronted with inconsistencies in her initial statement and declined to continue with the interview,” the sheriff’s department said, adding that they can’t rule out foul play in Emmanuel’s disappearance.
Jake and Rebecca Haro have not been charged in connection with Emmanuel’s disappearance.
Jake Haro has a past child cruelty conviction, records show
In 2018, Jake Haro and his former partner, Vanessa Avina, were charged with felony child cruelty, alleging the pair endangered a child under conditions likely to cause great bodily harm or death, according to Riverside County court records.
Haro pleaded guilty to the charge in 2023. He was placed on four years of felony probation and was ordered to serve 180 days in jail on a work-release program, KESQ reported.
Search of Haro’s family home
Over the last few days, investigators have conducted several searches in Yucaipa, the location of the retail store where Emmanuel was reported missing, and Cabazon, the location of the Haro family home.
Investigators have served several search warrants at the Haro home and have used K9 units to help with the investigation. Authorities are also reviewing a large amount of surveillance video from the areas of interest.
The sheriff’s department said: “Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Specialized Investigations Division at 909-890-4904. Callers wishing to remain anonymous should contact We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or go to wetip.com.”
The Haro family says they were in Yucaipa for a sports practice
KCAL and KTLA reported that Rebecca Haro was in Yucaipa, about 27 miles northwest of her home in Cabazon, for another child’s football practice.
Haro reportedly told authorities that she left her husband and their two other children at the local park where the football practice was held to get a mouthguard for the child, with Emmanuel in tow.
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