The California parents accused of falsely claiming that their 7-month-old son was kidnapped from a store parking lot were charged Tuesday with murder.
Rebecca Renee Haro, 41, and Jake Mitchell Haro, 32, were arraigned at a Riverside County court on charges of murder and making a false police report, court records show.
They are being held on a $1 million bail, and their attorney could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday.
The couple's son, Emmanuel Haro, is still missing. He is presumed dead, and authorities continue to search for his remains.
"The circumstances surrounding this investigation are tragic, and we will continue to search for Emmanuel," San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said in a Friday statement. "I trust our justice system will hold the parents accountable."
Deputies began searching for Emmanuel just before 8 p.m. on Aug. 14, after Rebecca Haro alleged he was kidnapped outside Big 5 Sporting Goods in Yucaipa.
She told investigators that she was outside her vehicle, changing his diaper, when an unknown man assaulted her and knocked her unconscious, according to the sheriff’s department.
Authorities stated that she told them that when she woke up, Emmanuel was no longer there.
"I was going to get the diaper, and somebody said, ‘Hola.’ I don’t remember anything since," she told KTLA-TV of Los Angeles. Rebecca Haro had a black eye during the on-camera interview.
"I woke up right here on the floor, and I didn’t see Emmanuel," she said.
Jake Haro has also previously pleaded for his son's return.
"He’s just a baby. Just give our son back," he told the news station.
Rebecca Haro’s mother defended the couple, telling KTLA that "they’re not going to hurt that baby."
Family members could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday.
The sheriff’s office said that scent-tracking dogs were used to search for Emmanuel, and evidence was uncovered that determined a kidnapping never occurred in Yucaipa.
The parents were arrested at their Cabazon home on Friday. They are scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 4 for another arraignment.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Comments