Court hearing for Emmanuel Haro's mother

Added: 2026-05-31

[00:00:00]Prosecutors are scheduled to lay out their case today for why the mother of baby Emanuel Haro of Kabazan should be tried for the child's murder.

[00:00:08]>> Mario Mirez is live outside the courthouse in Riverside with more on this. Mario, >> that preliminary hearing set to get underway in a few hours. Rebecca Haro right now is being held on $1 million bail. She's been charged with filing a false police report and seconddegree murder. And today's preliminary hearing focusing on whether or not this case will move to a trial. And take a look.

[00:00:28]You can see her here, 42-year-old Rebecca Haro. She last appeared in court last month, but she is returning today where a judge will decide if there's enough evidence to put her on trial for the murder of her seven-month-old son, Emanuel. She's, you know, maintained her innocence throughout this entire case.

[00:00:45]Prosecutors say she helped her husband, Jay Caro, cover up the baby's death, and this case drew national attention last August after baby Emanuel was reported missing. A massive search effort got underway. Community members building a memorial near the family's cabon home as that search continued. But investigators soon said her story didn't add up. Haro claimed a stranger abducted the baby while she was changing his diaper outside a big five store in Ukipa. Eight days later, she and her husband were arrested at their caban home. Jake Haro later pleaded guilty in October to seconddegree murder and child assault.

[00:01:18]He's now serving 32 years to life. And prosecutors now argue Rebecca Haro knew or suspected her son was being abused and helped create a false kidnapping story to conceal what really happened.

[00:01:28]Emanuel's body still has not been found and if convicted of seconddegree murder.

[00:01:32]His mother could face 15 years to life in state prison. Witnesses expected to take the stand as part of today's preliminary hearing. Again, it is set to get underway soon, scheduled at 9:00.

[00:01:42]And we'll keep you up to date with any major developments here in Riverside.

[00:01:45]Bob and Jen, back to you. Mario, how does the fact that baby Emanuel's body has never been found, how will that impact the the case against the mom?

[00:01:56]>> Well, while investigators have still not found any body or remains connected to the case, prosecutors say they have enough evidence to move it forward.

[00:02:04]Investigators who've been handling this from the very start say forensic evidence does show that a homicide occurred, and they actually still haven't made those details about what evidence they're talking about public.

[00:02:15]But the fact that his body still has not been found, has to be one of the most heartbreaking parts of this case. We know other family members and community members are hoping that one day his remains will be recovered.

[00:02:25]>> That that is heartbreaking, but they still think they have enough uh to move this case forward. What are some of the other big hurdles that prosecutors uh might be facing, Mario?

[00:02:36]Well, uh, when it comes to Rebecca Haro, unlike Jake Haro, who pleaded guilty to murdering his son, prosecutors are now going to have to prove what Rebecca knew and whether or not she had any part in covering up the crime here. Uh, now, they argue that she observed warning signs of child abuse and she didn't act and instead helped create that false story. On the other hand, you have the defense that'll argue she's not responsible for Emanuel's death and uh you know, she really um didn't know the extent of the abuse. So, that's one of the key issues that the judge will be looking at here during this preliminary hearing set to get underway. Okay.

[00:03:11]>> All right.

[00:03:12]>> Thank you.

[00:03:13]>> Following it closely. Thank you so much, Mayo.