Dad arrested over baby son’s ‘kidnapping’ joins police search for him
The father who was arrested over his son's 'kidnapping' has now joined the police search for him.
Last week, it was reported that Emmanuel Haro had been kidnapped when his mum, Rebecca, was changing his nappy outside her car while parked in front of a Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Yucaipa, California.
Speaking to local outlets, the mother claimed that she was struck from behind before waking up to discover that her seven-month-old child was gone.
Claiming that she 'noticed a smell' from her son, Rebecca decided to change him before heading into the store.
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"I took him out of the car seat and I laid him on the chair. I had his diapers here and someone said, 'Hola.' I couldn't turn and I don't remember nothing," the American claimed, adding that 'someone took him'.
Rebecca would eventually refuse to take a polygraph test, raising suspicions with authorities.
Emmanuel's father, Jake, who was convicted in June 2023 of wilful child cruelty in a separate case involving another child, was also arrested last week.
He was seen with deputies from the local sheriff's department at a mountainside near a California highway, looking for his son along with authorities while in an orange jumpsuit.
Jake's car was also seized by the cops, as the man who served 180 days in prison has now joined the search for his son, in the midst of his 48-month probation.
While he may be part of a good cause, the dad is also due to appear in court again on 2 September on account of a parole violation, which could result in even more prison time.
Both parents were arrested at their home days ago, after officers suspected that the infant had not been snatched and was likely deceased.
The pair have been held in custody in a Riverside County jail, as a search is currently ongoing to locate the baby's suspected remains.
Following a search at the 60 Freeway in Moreno Valley with specialist cadaver dogs, they could not find the missing infant and provided an update to the public.
"This afternoon a search for Emmanuel Haro was conducted along the westbound shoulder of the 60 Freeway, near Gilman Springs Road, in Moreno Valley," they said.
"Investigators were assisted by cadaver dogs. Jake Haro was at the location with detectives. The search has concluded, and Emmanuel was not located. The investigation to find Emmanuel continues."
The parents have come under fire by authorities after they stopped cooperating, as police noted that they found 'inconsistencies' in Rebecca's stories, refusing to rule out a kidnapping.
They noted that the Haros handed over phones and allowed a search at first, but they decided to stop, as Emmanuel's grandmother even claimed they refused to do a lie detector test without a lawyer.
Following Rebecca's pleas for the 'kidnapper' to give their son back, Jake added: "Whoever took my son, please return him.
"We just want him back. We won't do anything to you. Just give us our son. Keep him safe, don't hurt him, make sure you feed him and change him."
LADbible has reached out to San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department for comment.
Joshua Nair