The parents of a 7-month-old boy in California who was reported missing after allegedly being kidnapped during a parking lot diaper change, sparking a massive local search, are no longer cooperating with police after investigators and searchers discovered “inconsistencies” in their story, officials said.
One of the most serious issues is an alleged “eyewitness report” that claims the mother lied about a bruise she claims to have received during the kidnapping.
“We are receiving information that Emmanuel was not even reported to have been seen at the football game that the mother claimed they were all at,” the Uvalde Foundation for Kids told Law&Crime on Monday, after suspending its independent search for Emmanuel Haro due to the alleged “inconsistencies.”
According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Emmanuel’s mother, Rebecca Haro, allegedly told authorities that she was in Yucaipa at a football stadium with her children, including Emmanuel, for youth football activities prior to his disappearance. Haro claimed she went to a Big 5 Sporting Goods store to buy a mouth guard for another child when the alleged kidnapper confronted them and physically attacked her, leaving Haro with a black eye visible in local media interviews.
According to the Uvalde Foundation, a national organization that assists local law enforcement with independent searches for missing children through its “Lost Student Initiative,” the group allegedly received “an eyewitness report that the mother’s apparent bruise acquired during the attack at the Big 5 was in fact acquired previous to the incident.” On Monday, the group shared Facebook posts with Law&Crime that purportedly show workers at the Big 5 store claiming Haro did not have a child with her.
The foundation stated that this, “coupled with our previous communication notes,” resulted in the suspension of its search operations.
Haro claims Emmanuel was kidnapped on Thursday, August 14, around 7:45 p.m., with deputies dispatched to the Big 5 at 34579 Yucaipa Blvd around that time.
“I got him out of the car seat and laid him down so I could get his diaper ready,” Haro told local ABC affiliate KABC in a joint interview with Emmanuel’s father, Jake Haro, who has a previous criminal conviction for felony child abuse.
“I was going to get the diaper and somebody said, ‘Hola,’ and I didn’t see nothing,” Haro said in another interview with Jake and The CW affiliate KTLA from the Big 5 parking lot, where she claims it all happened.
“I woke up right here on the floor, and I didn’t see Emmanuel,” said Haro.
She told KABC, “When I woke up, I couldn’t find my son. I looked all around my truck. And I ran into Big 5, and I asked the lady if she had seen a baby or someone with a baby. “She said no.” Jake added, “He’s only a baby. “Just return our son, please.”
The Uvalde Foundation for Kids, a national organization that assists local law enforcement with independent searches for missing children through its “Lost Student Initiative,” told Law&Crime on Monday that it was working with police to provide details and whatever else it could in relation to what the group allegedly discovered. “We are awaiting further word and confirmation from law enforcement,” the foundation stated.
According to a press release issued Saturday, police were “unable to rule out foul play” after further investigation, prompting the Haros to withdraw their cooperation.
“We cannot in good conscience use our team and resources when so much is missing in this case,” Uvalde Foundation founder Daniel Chapin said in a statement. “Of particular concern to us lies within the inconsistencies in the details and the sudden decision by the mother to end communication with law enforcement and our team.”
Chapin continued, “Something is not right in this whole picture.”
Authorities did not respond to Law&Crime’s requests for comment Monday, but they did provide some information in the SBCSD release. Investigators allegedly searched the Haros’ home with cadaver dogs.
“Investigators interviewed multiple individuals, including Emmanuel’s parents Jake and Rebecca Haro,” according to a release. “During the interviews, Rebecca was confronted with inconsistencies in her initial statement and declined to continue. At this point in the investigation, investigators cannot rule out foul play in Emmanuel’s disappearance.”
According to local court records, Jake Haro was convicted of felony willful child cruelty in June 2023 following an arrest in Hemet in 2018. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 48 months probation, and he is scheduled to appear at a hearing on September 2 for an alleged probation violation, according to KABC.
