Rebecca Haro, the Cabazon mother of 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro, returned to Riverside County Superior Court on Thursday to face charges in her infant son’s death. A judge set her preliminary hearing for May 29, 2026, and kept her bail at $1 million. Haro has entered a not guilty plea.
Preliminary hearing set for May 29
In a brief appearance at the Riverside Hall of Justice, the judge scheduled Haro’s preliminary hearing for May 29 at 8:30 a.m., with prosecutors telling the court they expect to finish in a single day, according to KESQ. Deputy District Attorney William Robinson said witnesses will be ready to testify. Court records show Haro remains in custody on $1 million bail. A short clip of Thursday’s hearing was posted by NBC Los Angeles.
Prosecutors allege prolonged abuse
Riverside County prosecutors say investigators believe Emmanuel died after a sustained pattern of abuse and that his remains have still not been found, according to a news release from the Riverside County District Attorney's Office. “The evidence shows that baby Emmanuel endured ongoing abuse that ultimately took his life,” District Attorney Mike Hestrin said in the statement.
Father pleaded guilty last fall
Emmanuel’s father, Jake Haro, pleaded guilty on Oct. 16, 2025, to second-degree murder and related charges and was later sentenced to 25 years to life, according to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office. Rebecca Haro, by contrast, has pleaded not guilty and is expected to challenge the prosecution’s evidence at the upcoming preliminary hearing.
What to expect at the May hearing
At the preliminary hearing, prosecutors must convince a judge there is enough evidence, or probable cause, to send the case to trial. The District Attorney’s Office has said it may ask the court to admit evidence of prior abuse under California Evidence Code Section 1109, according to the Riverside County District Attorney’s news release. Defense attorneys have not said whether they plan to call Jake Haro as a witness, KESQ reported.
Community reaction and next steps
Child-safety advocates following the case have urged authorities to keep searching for Emmanuel and have pressed for potential legislative changes informally referred to as “Emmanuel’s Law,” the Los Angeles Times reported. With one parent already convicted and the child’s remains still missing, prosecutors say the May hearing will be a crucial test of whether they can present enough evidence to move the case toward trial.
