Emmanuel Haro: Parents accused in death of missing baby plead not guilty

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. - The parents of baby Emmanuel Haro appeared in a Riverside County courthouse on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to murder charges in connection with the disappearance of their son. 

Emmanuel's body has not yet been found, but the search for the 7-month-old’s body continues. 

Jake and Rebecca Haro arraignment

What we know:

Jake and Rebecca Haro both entered pleas of "not guilty" during the arraignment that lasted about ten minutes. 

Jake came into court wearing a red jumpsuit, which indicates he is not part of the general population in jail and is being kept separate for his own protection because of the charges that he is facing. 

Rebecca was wearing blue, but the color of her pants, which apparently determines her status, was not visible. However, it is believed she is also not part of the general population. 

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The Haros entered through separate doors and sat opposite each other in the courtroom. Neither spoke, other than Jake saying good morning to the judge. 

"Good Morning Mr. Haro," said the Judge. "Good, morning your Honor," Jake replied. 

Prosecutors were not required to present any evidence today. 

The Riverside County Public Defender's Office has assigned Deputy Public Defenders Allison Lowe and Paulette Garthwaite to represent Jake. He is also facing an older charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a gun and ammunition, which is strictly prohibited. He was convicted in 2023 of child abuse on another one of his children and was on probation at the time of the new charge.

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Rebecca is represented by private attorney Jeff Moore, who was appointed by the court. 

Both Lowe and Moore have represented David and Louise Turpin, the couple convicted of abusing 12 of their 13 children in the Inland Empire.

Investigation details

The backstory:

Jake and Rebecca were each charged with felony murder with malice on Aug. 26 in the death of their son Emmanuel, according to the Riverside County District Attorney’s office. They were also charged with filing a false police report, which is a misdemeanor. 

The Haros initially reported that their son had been kidnapped on Aug. 14, though investigators later determined that did not happen.

Investigators believe Emmanuel died as early as Aug. 5, which is the last day detectives could confirm he was alive.

SUGGESTED: Emmanuel Haro: Parents of missing California baby appear in court for the first time

His mother told investigators that she had been attacked while changing Emmanuel's diaper in the parking lot of a store in the San Bernardino County community of Yucaipa, authorities said. She claimed that someone said "Hola" to her, after which everything "went blank."

"I woke up on the floor, and my son was gone," she said in an interview last week with FOX 11.

The couple appeared on several news reports making pleas to the public to help find their son.

In the days that followed, investigators said the couple had stopped cooperating, adding that there were "inconsistencies" in the mother's story. Investigators declined to discuss what these inconsistencies were.

SUGGESTED: Emmanuel Haro's mother speaks from jail, insists 7-month-old baby was kidnapped

On Aug. 22, the Haros were taken into custody on suspicion of murder at their home in Cabazon, 90 miles east of Los Angeles.

Authorities searched the family's home, and over the weekend they searched for the boy's body near a freeway while his father, wearing a jail jumpsuit, was present. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said it wouldn't describe Jake's presence during the search as "providing assistance," but declined to elaborate.

What's next:

A felony settlement conference — also referred to as a trial readiness conference — has been scheduled for Sept. 16. During this hearing, lawyers will come together with the defendants and the judge to talk about their readiness for the trial and what they expect and if there's a plea deal that is reached. It's important to note that last week, the DA said there were no plea deals on the table, but that could be subject to change. 

The following day, on Sept. 17, a preliminary hearing will take place. This is where we'll hear some of the evidence the prosecution has against the Haros, but just enough to convince the judge that there is cause that they be held over for trial on charges of murder in the death of their son.

What you can do:

The search for Emmanuel continues. 

Anyone with information on this case or the whereabouts of Emmanuel is encouraged to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Homicide Detail at 909-890-4904 or submit an anonymous tip to We-Tip.

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