The parents of a 7-month-old California boy missing for nearly a week are being urged to rejoin the search as public scrutiny of the couple grows.
Rebecca and Jake Haro stopped cooperating with investigators after the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department announced there were “inconsistencies” in the mother’s claim their son, Emmanuel, was kidnapped outside a sporting goods store on Aug. 14.
As the investigation grew to encompass the couple’s Cabazon home, where cops brought cadaver-sniffing dogs and even seized a family car on Wednesday, dad Jake retained defense attorney Vincent Hughes — who also represented him in a child cruelty case from 2018.
Hughes insisted in a statement to KESQ that his client was still cooperating.
“The parents of the 7-month-old infant reported kidnapped Aug. 14 in Yucaipa seek answers about their missing child, Emmanuel Haro. Jake Haro is fully cooperating with law enforcement and investigators,” Hughes wrote.
However, the sheriff’s office put out its own statement that appears to contradict Hughes’ assertion, writing, “if the parents choose to work with detectives, we welcome their cooperation as we continue efforts to locate Emmanuel.”
Hughes did not respond to a voicemail from The Post seeking comment.
Authorities weren’t the only ones pushing the parents to take part in the search effort.
Nonprofit Uvalde Foundation for Kids, which previously withdrew its $5,000 reward leading to the safe return of Emmanuel after suspicions arose in the missing persons case, practically dared the couple to participate.
“Join the search & you will be protected. You can change the trajectory of this case & if there is nothing to hide, come forward & the foundation and community will support you as never imagined!” the nonprofit wrote on social media.
The foundation did not immediately return an email sent by The Post.
The sheriff’s department sprang into action after Rebecca reported the alleged kidnapping, which she claimed happened as she was changing the youngster’s diaper outside of a Big 5 sporting goods store.
But just two days later, the department made the grim announcement that they couldn’t “rule out foul play” as they searched, and that Rebecca’s account of what happened contained worrying “inconsistencies.”
The sheriff says, for now, “Emmanuel continues to be the main focus of this investigation, and we will continue our efforts to locate him.”
Authorities describe Emmanuel as 21 pounds and approximately 24 inches tall with brown hair, brown eyes and cross-eyed, last seen wearing a black Nike onesie.
Anyone with information about the infant’s whereabouts is urged to call San Bernardino Sheriff’s Dispatch at 909-387-8313.
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