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Gerrard Kaonga
Police have confirmed that the mother and father of a missing child have been arrested after they announced they had found inconsistencies in their story.
The seven-month-old Emmanuel Haro was reported missing to authorities on August 14 by his mother, Rebecca Haro.
She claimed that she had been attacked outside of a retail store in Yucaipa, California that evening, knocked unconscious and awoke to find her son was missing.
Speaking to local media, the mother said: "I got him out of the car seat, and I laid him down so I can get his diaper ready. All I remember, I saw white. I fell on the floor, and as soon as I got up, I couldn't find my son.
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"I checked all around my truck. And I ran into Big 5, and I asked the lady if she saw a baby or someone with a baby. She said no."
However, in a press release, authorities later confirmed that they had conducted interviews and confronted the mother about these inconsistencies in her story, which resulted in her declining to continue with the interview.
Police also noted that they were not ruling out foul play in his disappearance.
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In a latest development, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department announced that they had arrested Rebecca Haro and Jake Haro on August 22 in connection with the child’s disappearance.
They have been arrested on suspicion of murder and have confirmed they have been conducting extensive searches of areas in Yacaipa and Cabazon for the child.
Following the arrest, Sheriff Shannon Dicus said: "The circumstances surrounding this investigation are tragic and we will continue to search for Emmanuel.
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"I trust our justice system will hold the parents accountable."
So far, they have conducted several searches of the couple’s home and are looking through relevant surveillance footage to get a fuller picture of the situation.
Prior to this, during an interview with Los Angeles ABC station KABC, Rebecca pleaded with those who had ‘taken’ her son to give him back to her, she also said that her son was a happy boy.
A spokesperson for the sheriff's department told the outlet the father's vehicle was seized on Tuesday for evidence amid the investigation.
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Jake had previously pleaded guilty to willful cruelty to a child following a 2018 arrest, according to the KABC report.
Jake Haro’s attorney has also spoken to media outlets and said that he is 'fully cooperating' with law enforcement and investigators.