Riverside County is being sued for negligence following the death of 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Emmanuel’s 3-year-old sister, claims that the county’s Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) failed to protect the children from their abusive parents, according to the Press-Enterprise. The complaint alleges that DPSS did not follow its protocols and mishandled risk assessments, despite prior reports of abuse involving the Haro family.
In 2025, Emmanuel’s parents, Jake and Rebecca Haro, were sentenced to prison for their roles in his death. Jake Haro pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and assault on a child under eight, while Rebecca Haro admitted to involuntary manslaughter. The couple had a history of abuse, with Jake previously convicted of child cruelty in 2023. The lawsuit argues that DPSS should have intervened sooner, given the Haros’ documented history of abuse.
The lawsuit claims that DPSS failed to act on a report in June 2024 that the Haros were neglecting their children. A caseworker allegedly closed the investigation without adequate follow-up, leaving the family unmonitored after Emmanuel’s birth in December 2024. Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin stated that the lies told in this case exacerbated the tragedy of Emmanuel’s death.
The county has not yet received the lawsuit, but DPSS spokesman Gene Kennedy emphasized that the county takes allegations of child abuse seriously. The lawsuit seeks accountability for the county’s alleged failure to protect the Haro children, which it claims led to Emmanuel’s death and his sister’s loss of her brother.
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