The parents of 7-month-old baby Emmanuel Haro have entered a not guilty plea in response to the murder charges they face in a California court, with Rebecca Haro securing a renowned attorney for her defense team.

Both Rebecca and Jake Haro are charged with murder and filing a false report, as prosecutors claim the baby died following prolonged “severe abuse.” Initially, Rebecca informed the authorities that her baby had been abducted.

During a short court session on the morning of September 4, attracting a crowded audience to the Riverside Hall of Justice, the couple, each held on $1 million bail, sat apart from each other, reported The Press-Enterprise.

Rebecca Haro hires high-profile attorney

The prominent lawyer Jeff Moore, who previously defended David and Louise Turpin in another notable child abuse case, has joined Rebecca’s legal representation, as noted by People. 

The Turpin case gained national attention in January 2018 after their teenage daughter fled from a home later labeled the “house of horrors” by the media, alerting police that she and her siblings, aged between 2 and 29, had endured prolonged abuse from their parents.

David and Louise Turpin eventually admitted to 14 felony charges, receiving a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 25 years. 

After her arrest in August, Rebecca has continued to proclaim her innocence from behind bars, telling the Southern California News Group in an interview that she would not “give up” looking for her son.

Rebecca initially reported that she was changing Emmanuel’s diaper in the parking lot of a Yucaipa retail store on Aug. 14, 2025 when an unknown male “physically assaulted” her and knocked her unconscious, according to a statement from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office. She told law enforcement officers that when she regained consciousness the baby was gone.

Authorities soon discovered what they have described as “inconsistencies” in her story and determined her account was not true. The couple was arrested and charged with murder late last month.

“The filing in this case reflects our belief that baby Emmanuel was abused… over time and that eventually, because of that abuse, he succumbed to those injuries,” Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said in a press conference laying out the allegations.

The baby remains missing but Hestrin has said that authorities had a “pretty strong indication” of where Emmanuel’s remains could be.

Jake Haro’s criminal past

According to the district attorney, Jake was arrested in 2018 for child abuse, child neglect and cruelty in connection with the abuse of an infant daughter he shared with his ex-wife. 

That child was left “permanently bedridden” after suffering an acute rib fracture, partial bone fracture of the skull, and brain hemorrhage, among other injuries.

Jake agreed to plead guilty to the charges against him in court and was given a suspended sentence, something that Hestrin called an “outrageous error of judgement by the judge.” 

Jake Haro attended batterer’s treatment program

As part of the sentence, Jake was ordered to attend a year-long batterer’s treatment program, according to The Press Enterprise. Officials with PHS Counseling, who provided the training, reported that Jake attended all 52 classes and made “notable progress.” 

“He is attentive, polite and appropriately interactive in class with other members and (the) facilitator,” one counselor wrote. 

The counselor went on to add that Jake “appears to have understood the lesson material and principles, as evidenced by his sharing,” describing him as being “open and honest” in discussions. 

As part of the report, he was given a score of 1 out of 10, which is reserved for those with the lowest perceived risk of re-offending. 

Supporters show up at Haros’ court hearing

Rebecca didn’t speak during the court proceedings on September 4 while her husband only answered “yes” to one of the judges questions, according to The Press Enterprise. 

Outside the courthouse, supporters gathered to honor Emmanuel.

“I wish he could see what he has now… so much love from different moms,” Carla Jaramillo, a Cabazon resident who was among the crowd, told KABC.

Jazmin Hernandez, who hosts the true crime podcast “Murder by Nature,” was also at the hearing.

She is advocating for the creation of a child abuse registry that would operate much like the sex offender registry in an effort to reduce the effects of child abuse.

“I want to work to make a change to our laws to protect our children,” she told the news outlet. “If there were laws that had that, we wouldn’t be where we are right now. They would have been checked up on.” 

The Haros are scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 17.