As the search continues for missing infant Emmanuel Haro, a renewed interest in his family has revealed that his mother, Rebecca Haro, is the sister of convicted Palm Springs killer James Beushausen.
Beushausen was convicted of murdering his girlfriend Jaylynn Amanda Keith in 2017. He initially reported her death as a suicide, but authorities discovered inconsistencies in his story, according to an article from KESQ News Channel 3 published on Tuesday, August 19.
“It was initially reported as a suicide. And as we did our investigation, there were certain factors that led us to believe otherwise,” Lt. Gustavo Araiza told the outlet.
Beushausen was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison.
Last week, all eyes turned to Yucaipa, California, after Rebecca reported that someone had kidnapped Emmanuel on August 14 while she was changing his diaper in her car in the parking lot of the retail store Big 5. She claimed that an unknown male approached her from behind before saying, “Hola,” and then knocking her unconscious, according to an August 16 press release. When she came to, Emmanuel was no longer in the car.
“I got him out of the car seat and I laid him down so I could get his diapers ready,” Rebecca said in an interview with ABC 7 on August 15. “Somebody said ‘Hola’ and that’s all I remember. I saw white and I fell on the floor and I said as I got up that I couldn’t find my son. I checked all around my truck and I ran into Big 5. I asked the lady if she saw a baby. She said no.”
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department have since stated that there have been “inconsistencies” in Rebecca’s story and “investigators are unable to rule out foul play.”
Officers have also followed up on reported sightings of the child, but no new information has been released to the public at this time.
Rebecca’s husband, Jake Haro, and his former partner, Vanessa Avina, were previously charged with felony child cruelty for allegedly placing a child in circumstances that could have resulted in serious injury or death, according to court records obtained by KESQ Channel 3 News.
Jake pleaded guilty in June 2023 and received four years of felony probation. He was required to serve 180 days in jail through a work-release program, with a potential six-year prison sentence suspended under the plea agreement.
