One week after Emmanuel Haro was reported missing by his mom, authorities claimed that he was never kidnapped.

On the evening of Aug. 14, 2025, police responded to reports about a missing 7-month-old boy, Emmanuel. The San Bernardino County Sheriff shared an update on X on Aug. 15, writing, “Investigators from our Specialized Investigations Division are continuing to investigate 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.”

In the week to follow, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department (SBCSD) investigated Emmanuel’s kidnapping — and found “inconsistencies” in Rebecca’s accounts.

Over the following days, detectives interviewed witnesses, executed search warrants and reviewed digital evidence — leading them to conclude the kidnapping had never happened. On Aug. 22, the SBCSD announced that Emmanuel’s parents, Rebecca and Jake, had been arrested on murder charges.

Another update came on Aug. 26, when Rebecca and Jake were charged with first-degree murder, along with a misdemeanor charge of making a false police report.

Jake and Rebecca have since pleaded guilty for their involvement in Emmanuel’s death, and both have been sentenced to prison.

So, what happened to Emmanuel Haro? Here’s everything to know about the case following his parents’ guilty pleas.

Emmanuel’s mom said she was attacked outside a store while he was kidnapped

Rebecca Haro and Jake Haro.

KTLA

Emmanuel’s mom, Rebecca, claimed to police that her son was kidnapped as she was attacked outside of a store.

According to KTLA, she had visited a local park for her son’s football practice with her husband and their two other children before driving to a Big 5 Sporting Goods store on Yucaipa Boulevard to pick up a mouthguard. She said that when she went to change Emmanuel’s diaper in her car, someone “snatched” him from the vehicle and attacked her.

“I was going to get the diaper and somebody said, ‘Hola,’ and I don’t remember anything since,” Rebecca, who appeared to have a black eye, told the outlet. “I woke up here on the floor and I didn’t see Emmanuel.” She alleged that someone “snatched” her son out of her vehicle.

Rebecca claimed that she “checked all around” her truck for Emmanuel before running into the store and calling 911.

Police noted that no surveillance footage was available from the area and that an Amber Alert could not be issued because there was no description of a suspect or vehicle, per KTLA.

Police found inconsistencies in statements from Emmanuel’s mother

Rebecca Haro.

KCAL

On Aug. 16, the SBCSD shared that they had found “inconsistencies” in Rebecca’s statements.

“Investigators interviewed multiple individuals, including Emmanuel’s parents Jake and Rebecca Haro,” the SBCSD said in a news release. “During those interviews, Rebecca was confronted with inconsistencies in her initial statement and declined to continue with the interview.”

At that point, investigators said they were not ruling out “foul play” in the child’s disappearance.

Both parents were arrested on murder charges

Jake and Rebecca Haro.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department

On Aug. 22, the SBCSD announced that Rebecca and Jake had been arrested at their home on murder charges.

They confirmed that both had been booked in a Riverside County jail without bail. No other arrests have been made, and no other suspects have been named.

On Aug. 26, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office announced that Rebecca and Jake have both been charged with first-degree murder and making a false police report. According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, they were both being held on a $1 million bail.

Emmanuel’s remains have not been found

Visitors gather around a makeshift memorial for missing boy Emmanuel Haro on Aug. 22, 2025.

Will Lester/MediaNews Group/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin via Getty

In their Aug. 22 update, the SBCSD shared that they “believed Emmanuel is deceased,” though they noted the “search to recover his remains is ongoing.”

They went on to say that while Rebecca and Jake’s arrests “mark a significant development,” their focus remains on finding Emmanuel.

“The circumstances surrounding this investigation are tragic and we will continue to search for Emmanuel,” Sheriff Shannon Dicus said. “I trust our justice system will hold the parents accountable.”

As of May 29, Emmanuel’s remains have not yet been found.

Emmanuel’s father was previously convicted of child cruelty

Jake Haro.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department

As the investigation into Emmanuel’s disappearance unfolded, one of his father’s past convictions resurfaced. According to The Orange County Register, court records show that Jake was previously convicted of child cruelty.

The conviction stemmed from injuries sustained in 2018 by Jake’s then 10-week-old daughter, whom he shares with his ex-wife Vanessa Avina. Per the outlet, both pleaded guilty to the charge in 2023.

Authorities believe Emmanuel experienced a lifetime of “severe 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮” before his death

During a press conference on Aug. 27, Riverside District Attorney Michael Hestrin stated that he believes Emmanuel was a “victim of child 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮.”

“The filing in this case reflects our belief that baby Emmanuel was abused, a victim of child 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮 over time and that eventually because of that 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮, he succumbed to those injuries,” Hestrin said.

Jake and Rebecca have both pleaded guilty and been sentenced to prison

In October 2025, Jake pleaded guilty to three charges in total: murder, filing a false police report and child endangerment, per a spokesperson for the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

The following month, he was sentenced to 25 years to life, with an additional six years for a prior child 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮 case and another eight months for being a felon in possession of a firearm, per KTLA 5.

Months later, Rebecca pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter on May 29 for her role in her son’s death, per KTLA 5.

Prosecutors said Emmanuel’s father inflicted the fatal injuries, but his mother knew her son was being abused and failed to protect him or seek medical care. They also said Rebecca helped cover up his death by fabricating a story that he was abducted during a surprise attack in a Yucaipa parking lot.

Under the plea agreement, Rebecca was immediately sentenced to 12 years and 8 months in state prison, the district attorney’s office said.

If you suspect child 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮, call the Childhelp National Child 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮 Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.