Mystery surrounds the disappearance of a 7-month-old baby after detectives said there were “inconsistencies” with the mom’s claims he was kidnapped when she was attacked by a stranger.
Emmanuel Haro was reportedly abducted in a parking lot of a shopping center in San Bernardino County, California, last Thursday evening (August 14). A huge police search was launched, with officers sharing photos of the baby online and drafting in K9 scent-tracking dogs to help them find him.
But the child remains missing this week, and on Monday, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office revealed they had used sniffer dogs inside the baby’s home, where he lived with mom Rebecca Haro and dad Jake Haro. Officers had already expressed doubts about elements of the mother’s account of what happened to Emmanuel.
She has now stopped cooperating with detectives after being confronted about her story, according to the authorities, and investigators say they are “unable to rule out foul play.”
Newsweek reached out to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
The Context
Stranger abduction is rare, as is news of a kidnapper attacking a mom to abduct her baby.
The vast majority of children who are reported missing (more than 95 percent) are youths who are found relatively quickly after running away, according to analysis by Reuters. Abduction by a noncustodial parent or relative accounts for most of the remaining cases, and just 0.1 percent are reported as being abducted by a stranger.
What To Know
Rebecca Haro said she was attacked as she changed Emmanuel’s diaper in the back seat of her car at a Big 5 Sporting Goods parking lot on Yucaipa Boulevard. She said she was knocked unconscious from behind and awoke to find the infant had gone.
She and the baby’s father, her husband Jake Haro, were both interviewed by local TV station KTLA just hours later, and begged for the abductor to return their son. Rebecca Haro had a black eye that she claimed was the result of the attack, and she wept as she spoke to the reporter.
She said she heard a male stranger say, “Hola,” behind her and the next thing she knew, she was regaining consciousness “on the floor and I didn’t see Emmanuel.” She said the scene was soon filled with police and K9 dogs while helicopters circled overhead.
“Whoever took my son, please return him,” Jake Haro said. “We just want him back. We won’t do anything to you. Just give us our son. Keep him safe, don’t hurt him, make sure you feed him and change him.”
Authorities told KTLA that an Amber Alert was not activated because the case did not meet the relevant criteria, as there was no description of the suspect or vehicle.
However, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office (SBCSD) shared details about the alleged kidnapping on X, along with a picture of Emmanuel saying he had been “reported missing.”
An update on Friday, August 15, revealed more details about the investigation, with officers saying they were investigating “the reported kidnapping of a seven-month-old, after the child’s mother reported being attacked outside a retail store on Yucaipa Boulevard last night.”
But a full statement released by the sheriff’s office later that same day only raised further questions as it raised doubts about the mom’s initial account of the incident, saying there had been “inconsistencies” in her story.
Deputies were seen searching the family home in Cabazon over the weekend, and on Monday, confirmed they had used sniffer dogs inside the property.
And unease grew as it emerged Jake Haro had previously been convicted of felony willful child cruelty in June 2023 following an incident back in 2018, according to reports. The Orange County Register reported that he was jailed for 180 days and was still on probation related to that prosecution.
The Uvalde Foundation for Kids had promised a $5,000 reward for information leading to Emmanuel’s being found, but has now dropped the offer.
“We cannot in good conscience utilize our team and resources when so much is missing in this case,” the foundation said, adding: “We hope law enforcement will continue to pursue the case so that this precious child may be found and placed in a safe environment.”
What People Are Saying
The Specialized Investigations Division of San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office said on Saturday: “Investigators interviewed multiple individuals, 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. At this point in the investigation, investigators are unable to rule out foul play in the disappearance of Emmanuel.”
An updated statement on Monday added: “Investigators have served several search warrants at the Haro home and utilized K9s to aid in the investigation. Additionally, a large amount of surveillance video has been obtained from areas of interest and are being reviewed.”
What Happens Next
The hunt continues for Emmanuel as fears grow for his safety.
Anyone with information about the case 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.
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