A memorial outside the home of missing 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro, in Cabazon, Calif., on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.

PALM SPRINGS, CA — The parents of Emmanuel Haro, the missing 7-month-old California boy, pleaded not guilty to murder charges on Sept. 4 after the mother claimed that her child had been kidnapped outside a retail store.

Jake Haro, 32, and his wife, Rebecca Haro, 41, are accused of murdering Emmanuel and filing a false police report in connection with the infant's disappearance. They entered their pleas at the Riverside Justice Center and remain in Riverside County jail with bail set at $1 million.

The Haros were arrested at their home in Cabazon, California, on Aug. 22 after police found inconsistencies in their report of the purported abduction. The baby has not yet been found.

Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said in late August that Emmanuel remains missing and is presumed dead. During a news conference held after charges were filed, Hestrin said that the baby is believed to have been a victim of severe abuse before he succumbed to his injuries.

Jake Haro had previously been convicted of child abuse and was on probation, rather than in prison, for that crime, according to Hestrin.

Jake Haro was seen days after his arrest in a jail jumpsuit, accompanying deputies in what appeared to be a search of a remote area of Southern California desert scrubland. Hestrin, the district attorney, said last week that the search is ongoing and that police believe they know the approximate location of where the child's remains were left.

Jake Haro was appointed two attorneys from the Riverside County Public Defender's Office, Paulette Garthwaite and Allison Lowe. Rebecca Haro is being represented by Jeff Moore, who previously represented Louise Turpin, the mother who was convicted with her husband of imprisoning and abusing their children for years in Perris, California.

What happened to Emmanuel Haro?

The disappearance of Emmanuel garnered national attention after Rebecca Haro initially reported to police that her infant was kidnapped outside a Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Yucaipa, California, before 8 p.m. local time on Aug. 14, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Rebecca Haro alleged that she was changing her son's diaper outside her car when a man assaulted her and knocked her unconscious, according to the sheriff's department. She told police that when she regained consciousness, the baby was gone.

The sheriff's department said investigators interviewed multiple people, including Jake and Rebecca Haro. During those interviews, police noted that they found "inconsistencies" with Rebecca Haro's initial claim.

Authorities also searched the area but did not find the baby. At the time, the sheriff's department said investigators were unable to rule out foul play in the disappearance of Emmanuel.

Yucaipa is 10 miles east of San Bernardino. Cabazon is about 20 more miles away from Yucaipa.

Jake and Rebecca Haro arrested, each charged with murder

On Aug. 22, Jake and Rebecca Haro were arrested at their home, and authorities said there were no other suspects in the case. The couple was initially booked into the Riverside County jail without bail.

"While these arrests mark a significant development, our focus remains on finding Emmanuel," the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said in an Aug. 22 news release.

Jake and Rebecca Haro later briefly appeared in court on Aug. 26 and were formally charged with murder and knowingly making a false report of a crime.

During a news conference on Aug. 27, Hestrin said investigators believe Emmanuel's death was a result of prolonged abuse. Hestrin also said investigators have "a pretty strong indication" of where the infant's body is, but search operations are still underway.

"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 at the news conference.

Contributing: Melina Khan, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Parents of Emmanuel Haro plead not guilty to murder charges

Reporting by Christopher Damien and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun

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