Father of toddler missing in California has felony child cruelty conviction

As new details emerge in the case of an allegedly kidnapped 7-month-old boy in San Bernardino County, authorities have reportedly taken the couple’s 2-year-old, searched the home with cadaver dogs, while an independent group devoted to finding missing kids has withdrawn its offered reward and suspended its search efforts.  

On Aug. 14, Rebecca Haro, the boy’s mother, initially told investigators that she left her husband, Jake Mitchell Haro, and their other two children at a local park where one of the boys was having football practice to go purchase a mouthguard for him.  

“I came over here and parked right on the edge,” she told KTLA. “When I was driving over, I smelled the baby had went to the restroom, so I said, ‘Don’t worry, we are going to change you.’”  

After parking, Rebecca claims she laid the baby down next to the car seat to change his diaper. The last thing she said she remembers was hearing a stranger’s voice before she was attacked. 

“I was going to get the diaper and somebody said, ‘Hola,’ and I don’t remember anything since,” she recalled in tears. “I woke up here on the floor and I didn’t see Emmanuel.” 

Officials with both the Riverside and San Bernardino county sheriff departments deployed K-9 units and helicopters during an extensive manhunt that was ultimately unsuccessful.  

An AMBER Alert was never issued in the alleged kidnapping because it didn’t meet the criteria without a suspect or vehicle descriptions.  

Authorities now say Emmanuel’s mother and father have been less than cooperative in the investigation.  

Sheriff’s investigators said that when confronted with inconsistencies in her story, Rebecca refused to continue speaking to authorities. The child’s grandmother, who believes the couple is innocent, said investigators asked Rebecca to take a lie detector test but that her husband Jake refused the request until they had a lawyer present.  

Riverside County Superior Court records show that Jake Mitchell Haro has a June 2023 felony conviction for child cruelty from a 2018 arrest in Hemet, The Orange County Register reported.  

He was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 48 months of probation and is scheduled to appear in court in early September for an alleged probation violation.  

While friends and family launched a search effort Friday night, authorities on Saturday reportedly searched the couple’s Cabazon home and brought along cadaver dogs.

“At this point in the investigation, investigators are unable to rule out foul play in the disappearance of Emmanuel,” authorities with SBSD’s Specialized Investigations Division stated before adding that the investigation remains ongoing. 

Officials with the Uvalde Foundation for Kids, who were offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of Emmanuel, according to The Register, called off their independent search less than a day after announcing the effort.  

“We cannot in good conscience, utilize our team and resources when so much is missing in this case. 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…Something is not right in this whole picture,” the foundation’s founder Daniel Chapin told the outlet.  

In the meantime, Rebecca and Jake Haro continue to plead for the safe return of the 7-month-old.  

Emmanuel is about 24 inches tall and weighs about 21 pounds. He has brown hair, brown eyes, and is cross-eyed. He was last seen wearing a black Nike onesie. 

Anyone who knows Emmanuel’s whereabouts or has information on the case is urged to call 911, Sheriff’s Dispatch at 909-387-8313, or the Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division at 909-890-4904. Anonymous tips can be submitted to We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or at wetip.com.