What began as a desperate search for a missing infant has spiraled into a chilling murder case with bloody floorboards, fake kidnapping claims, and a family history riddled with violence. Now, baby Emmanuel Haro is presumed dead and his parents are behind bars.
From Kidnapping Tale to Murder Arrests
On August 14, Rebecca Haro called police with a horrifying claim: her 7-month-old son Emmanuel had been kidnapped during a diaper change in a California parking lot. She said she was attacked and knocked unconscious—an ambush that ended with her baby missing.
But within days, detectives unraveled the story. Rebecca stopped cooperating with police. Surveillance footage and digital forensics painted a different picture. On August 22, Rebecca, 41, and her husband Jake Haro, 32, were arrested on suspicion of murder.
They were hauled away from their Cabazon home in an armored vehicle, marking a dramatic escalation in what police now say is a body recovery mission.
Based on the evidence, investigators determined that a kidnapping in Yucaipa did not occur. They stated, “It is believed Emmanuel is deceased, and the search to recover his remains is ongoing.”
A Haunting New Detail: Where Has Emmanuel Been for a Month?
The most chilling revelation yet came from true-crime podcaster Annie Elise, who told NewsNation that no one had seen Emmanuel for about a month before he was reported missing.
“There has not been a family member who has said they’ve laid eyes on him in a month,” she said. “That gave them time to dispose of evidence or the body.”
She also claimed that officers had been removing floorboards from the Haro home that reportedly had blood on them, though this has not been publicly confirmed. Police were seen searching trash bins, combing sheds, and removing floorboards.
A Chilling History of Violence
The Haro family’s past only deepens the horror.
- Jake Haro pleaded guilty to willful child cruelty in 2018 after his infant daughter was hospitalized with broken bones. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail, placed on 48 months’ probation, and given a suspended 72-month prison term. He was also scheduled to appear in court for a probation violation. The child, Promise, was left permanently blind, unable to walk or talk, and survives with only 3% brain function.
- Rebecca’s brother, James Beushausen, was found guilty in 2017 of murdering his girlfriend Jaylynn Keith and attempting to cover it up.
“To say this family has a dark past is an understatement,” a community member said.
Police confirmed earlier in the week that a 2-year-old child was removed from the Haro home after Emmanuel was reported missing. The day before the couple’s arrest, officers responded to a new child abuse complaint linked to the case, but no arrests were made.
“Investigators responded to the location regarding the allegations,” said Lt. Deirdre Vickers of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. “The investigation remains ongoing.”
The Search for Justice—and a Body
Despite the murder charges, authorities have not found Emmanuel’s body. A car belonging to Jake has been seized, and detectives are pouring over CCTV footage and digital records in a desperate attempt to locate the infant’s remains.
“While these arrests mark a significant development, our focus remains on finding Emmanuel,” said the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office.
Meanwhile, a candlelight vigil was held outside the Haros’ property Friday night. Neighbors, heartbroken and stunned, stood together in silence, mourning a baby they never got to know and fearing what may come next.
Rebecca and Jake Haro remain jailed without bail. Their next court appearance is scheduled for later this week.
