Baby Emmanuel's parents plead not guilty to murder as search for 7-month-old continues

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- The parents of 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder charges as the search for their child continues, three weeks after he was reported missing in Southern California.

Jake and Rebecca Haro entered their pleas at the Riverside Hall of Justice. They are also accused of making a false police report.

"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. That's what we believe," said Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin.

Baby Emmanuel Haro likely died from abuse by his parents before they made a false report that he was abducted, authorities said.

The child's parents were arrested last month following a multi-agency investigation into the disappearance and presumed death of their baby son.

It began Aug. 14, when Rebecca said she was attacked and the baby kidnapped in a Big 5 parking lot in Yucaipa.

The search continues for a 7-month-old boy who was reportedly kidnapped in Yucaipa.

Questions were raised after authorities said there were inconsistencies in the parents' story, leading them to search their Cabazon home multiple times before they were arrested and charged.

Meanwhile, community members gathered outside of the courtroom Thursday, saying they want to be a voice for baby Emmanuel.

"I wish he could see what he has now ... so much love from different moms," said Carla Jaramillo, a Cabazon resident who's been following the case.

Jazmin Hernandez, who runs the true crime podcast "Murder by Nature," also stopped by Thursday's hearing and said the Emmanuel case shows why laws need to change.

She's pushing for a registry of child abusers that would work similarly to a sex offender registry. Her petition on Change.org has nearly 6,000 signatures.

"I want to work to make a change to our laws to protect our children," said Hernandez. "If there were laws that had that, we wouldn't be where we are right now. They would have been checked up on. They have another little girl. They would have had people checking in on them."

According to The Press-Enterprise, two attorneys who represented David and Louise Turpin are now defending the Haros against the charges they're facing.

The Turpins are in prison after pleading guilty to child abuse charges involving their own 13 children.

A preliminary hearing for the Haros is set for Wednesday, September 17.

They're being held on $1 million bail.