Jake Haro joined police at search location

Officials in California are continuing to search for 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro days after charging his parents with murder in his disappearance.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Jake and Rebecca Haro on Aug. 22 at their home in Cabazon, California, located about 25 miles northwest of Palm Springs. They have both been charged with murder and are set to appear in court on Aug. 26.

Rebecca Haro, the boy’s mother, initially told authorities the infant had been kidnapped on Aug. 14 outside a store in nearby Yucaipa. Investigators determined the kidnapping never occurred, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department (SBCSD) said in a release.

As the search for Emmanuel continues, here’s what we know so far about the boy’s parents and why they are being accused of murder.

What we know about Jake and Rebecca Haro

Police arrested Jake Haro, 32, and Rebecca Haro, 41, on one count each of murder on Aug. 22. They were booked into a Riverside County Jail without bail, SBCSD said.

“No other arrests have been made, and no suspects remain outstanding,” the department said on X.

One of Jake and Rebecca Haro’s other children was removed from the family’s home by Riverside County Children’s Services, Rodriguez confirmed to USA TODAY on Aug. 25.

The Department of Public Social Services said in a statement to USA TODAY that it cannot comment on specific children or family cases due to state confidentiality laws.

USA TODAY had been unable to reach Rebecca and Jake Haro for comment prior to their arrests. It’s not clear whether they have retained legal counsel.

Jake Haro has previous child cruelty conviction

According to state court records obtained by USA TODAY, Jake Haro was convicted in June 2023 of willful child cruelty for an incident involving another child in the nearby town of Hemet.

The charges stem from an incident during which Haro told police that he had been giving a baby girl a bath in a kitchen sink and accidentally dropped her, the LA Times reported.

Before his Aug. 22 arrest, Jake Haro was due to appear in court on Sept. 2 for arraignment on allegations he violated the terms of his probation, according to the documents.

USA TODAY contacted Vincent Hughes, who is representing Jake Haro in the 2023 child cruelty case, on Aug. 23 but has not received a response.

Has Emmanuel Haro been found?

As of Aug. 25, Emmanuel Haro has not been found. Investigators believe he is dead, and a kidnapping never occurred, SBCSD said on Aug. 22.

Prior to Emmanuel’s parents’ arrests, police said that they “conducted extensive searches” using K-9s in Yucaipa and Cabazon.

They also seized a car belonging to Jake Haro for evidence processing, Mara Rodriguez, public information officer for SBCSD, confirmed to USA TODAY on Aug. 20.

On Aug. 24, Jake Haro joined investigators at a search off a freeway in Moreno Valley, the department said in a post on X. Despite using cadaver dogs, the infant was not found, and police said they are continuing their search.

How can parents be accused of murder without finding Emmanuel Haro’s body?

A so-called “no-body homicide” is uncommon, but not impossible, Ambrosio Rodriguez, a criminal defense attorney and former Riverside County deputy district attorney, told USA TODAY.

“Honestly, it happens more often in places where there’s large swaths of land like San Bernardino or Riverside County, where it’s just easier to bury a body,” Rodriguez said.

In this case, as Emmanuel Haro still has not been found, Rodriguez said it’s likely that detectives relied on the parent’s inconsistent statements, rather than physical evidence, in order to carry out the arrests.

“The importance of physical evidence is something that happens on TV and movies, not in real life. The majority of cases are based on words, not on DNA or anything of that nature,” Rodriguez said.

Timeline of Emmanuel Haro’s disappearance

Here’s what has happened in the case of the missing child so far.

• Aug. 14: Rebecca Haro reported that her son, Emmanuel, had been kidnapped outside a store in Yucaipa shortly before 8 p.m. local time. She said she was standing outside her car while changing his diaper when she was knocked unconscious by an unknown person who took the boy, according to a release from SBCSD.

• Aug. 15: Rebecca Haro, with a visible black eye, said in interviews with KCAL and KTLA that the family was in the area for a football practice. She said she went to the store to buy a mouthguard.

• Aug. 16: Investigators announced that they interviewed both Rebecca and Jake Haro. After confronting the mother about “inconsistencies” in her statements, she declined further cooperation, SBCSD said in a release.

• Aug. 22: SBCSD deputies arrested Rebecca and Jake Haro and charged them with murder.

• Aug. 26: Rebecca and Jake Haro are expected to have their first court appearances.

Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas and Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com. 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Emmanuel Haro still not found: What we know about Jake, Rebecca Haro