Investigators in the Inland Empire are continuing efforts to locate the baby boy who was reported as kidnapped late last week, as antsy community members rally for his safe return.
Rebecca Haro, of Cabazon, reported her 7-month-old son, Emmanuel Haro, as kidnapped on Thursday after she said she was attacked in the parking lot of a Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Yucaipa while changing her son’s diaper in the car.
“I took him out of the car seat and laid him on the chair. I had his diapers here, and someone said, ‘Hola.’ I couldn’t turn, and I don’t remember nothing. I got up from the floor and didn’t see my child. Someone took him from me,” she said.
Since then, the Cabazon and Yucaipa communities have rallied for the missing boy.
“This is a child’s life and we need to find this baby,” said Mary Espinoza, an Inland Empire woman.
According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Rebecca was “confronted with inconsistencies in her initial statement and declined to continue with the interview.”
Detectives were seen speaking with the infant’s father, Jake Haro, outside the family’s home Sunday night. According to law enforcement, Jake was convicted in 2021 for cruelty to a child and in 2024 for being a felon in possession of a handgun.
Details on both cases were not immediately available, but a former colleague of Jake said she was surprised to learn about the convictions.
“He was nice, he was cool. Just a cool, nice guy,” said Christina Topper, who worked with Jake at Walmart in 2016. “This has been messing with me since I found out. That poor baby.”
Community members held a candlelight vigil on Sunday for Emmanuel outside the Big 5 store. They say they’re committed to keeping the child’s best interest in mind and hope for his well-being.
“When a child is missing and he’s nowhere to be found, the community needs to rise up,” said a woman who wished not to be identified. “We need to search and we need to find baby Emmanuel.”
The infant weighs approximately 21 pounds and stands 24 inches tall. He has brown hair and eyes and was last seen wearing a Nike onesie.
Anyone with information on the case is urged to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department at 909-387-8313.
Source: NBC Los Angeles
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