A mother has stopped cooperating with authorities after she claimed her seven-month-old son was 'kidnapped'.
Rebecca Haro claimed that she was simply changing her son Emmanuel Haro's nappy outside her car in front of a Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Yucaipa, California, when she was knocked unconscious.
The mother said she was struck from behind before waking up to find that her child was missing.
Speaking to NBC LA, she recalled: "I noticed a smell from my baby so I wanted to change him before going into the store. 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.
Advert
"I got up from the floor and didn't see my child. Someone took him from me."
But now, as the investigation continues, the American mum is refusing to take a polygraph test.
Rebecca's lawyer said that this is due to emotional stress, as attorney Vincent Hughes explained to The LA Times: "No attorney in their right mind would allow that to happen, and no person should ever consent to a lie detector test when it's not even scientifically proven to be admissible in court."
Police have since claimed to have found 'inconsistencies' in the mother's story, and insisted that foul play cannot be ruled out in a kidnapping under 'suspicious circumstances'.
Advert
They have since seized the car belonging to Emmanuel's dad, Jake Haro, who is a convicted child abuser.
Records reveal that Jake was convicted in June 2023 of wilful child cruelty in a separate case involving another child, after being arrested in October 2018.
He served 180 days behind bars and is currently going through a 48-month probation.
Jake is due to appear in court again on 2 September on account of a parole violation, which could land him back behind bars.
Advert
On Tuesday, 19 August, The San Bernardino County Sheriff Department took his vehicle and even searched the couple's home in Cabazon with cadaver dogs, report KTLA.
Authorities said the Haros cooperated at first, handing over phones and allowing a search, but would soon stop working with investigators.
Emmanuel's grandmother even claimed Jake and Rebecca were asked to take a lie detector test, but the former refused to do so without a lawyer.
It should be noted that polygraph tests aren't admissible in court and aren't standard police investigation procedure.
Advert
"He's a happy boy," Rebecca told KTLA just hours after her son's disappearance. "He was a healthy baby, he was crawling, he was kicking, he was playing with his toys. Whoever took our son, please give him back."
"Whoever took my son, please return him," Jake added. "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."
The community have helped to hand flyers out - Emmanuel weighs about 21lbs and is about 24 inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes, as well as a cross-eye while wearing a black Nike onesie at the time.
A suspect description has not been released, though the investigation is ongoing.
LADbible has reached out to San Bernardino Police Department and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department for comment.
Joshua Nair