The New Developments in the Lonzie Barton Case

By, Crystal S. Kauffman, Contributing Writer

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Jacksonville, FL-Little Lonzie Barton have been missing for almost two months now, but the key suspects in his sudden disappearance are keeping their mouth shut. The suspects who police have arrested are William “Ruben” Ebron and his mother Lonna Lauramore Barton. According to Jacksonville.com, little Lonzie’s mother, Lonna has plead not guilty in court for two charges of child neglect and one count of lying to police throughout the investigation.

According to Fox30Jax, Chris Barton’s Aunt, Shirley Barton believes Lonna was involved in what happened to little Lonzie. She says Lonna is ‘evil’ and the family is upset that the children’s father, Chris Barton would help his estranged wife bond out of jail. The toddler’s father is standing by his estranged wife, because he believe that she has had no involvement in little Lonzie’s disappearance.

Lonzie’s mother was separated from her husband, Chris Barton, at the time of little Lonzie’s disappearance and she was dating Ruben. However, her estranged husband believes that Lonna Barton had nothing to do with little Lonzie’s disappearance. According to News4Jax, a witness was angry as little Lonzie’s mother did the ‘happy dance’ as she was being released from jail. So far, little Lonzie has not been found and police are building a murder case against William ‘Ruben’ Ebron.

According to First Coast News.com, former State Attorney Harry Shorstein spoke to a FCN reporter after little Lonzie Barton had been missing about a week. Attorney Shorstein is not part of the Lonzie Barton case, but explained that the toddler’s body is not needed for prosecuting this case. However, he also knows that it will be a difficult task for the assigned prosecutors, because they must prove that the suspects have been lying since day one.  

Many people believe the mother knows more than she is saying, but at this point she is not talking to anyone. According to One News Page.com , an audio recording surfaced that revealed Lonna L. Barton talking with a friend about using drugs and about Ebron involvement in Lonzie’s disappearance. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has this secret recording and it is now part of their investigation into little Lonzie’s disappearance.

This case started when this adorable blonde-haired, blue-eyed toddler and his five-year-old sister were left in the care of the mother’s boyfriend William ‘Ruben’ Ebron. The mother Lonna was working at Wacko’s as an exotic dancer. Ebron took her to work and later texted her to find a ride home, which she found with a co-worker. According to News4Jax, Lonna’s coworker gave her ride home and she stated that the mother’s actions were odd and suspicious.

She was living in a one bedroom apartment with Ebron and the two children at the Ravenwood Apartments located at 8030 South Old Kings Rd. According to Jacksonville.com, on July 24th, 2015, Ebron reported his car stolen with the toddler in it. Ebron told investigators that his car was stolen with the toddler sleeping inside of it, but the police found the car a few blocks away and Lonzie was not inside the car.

According to News4Jax, a video surfaced that showed Ebron was lying and police arrested Ebron immediately. At first, the police made the mother seem like she was a victim, who was distraught over the loss of her missing son. From the moment police met Lonzie’s mother that night, she instantly began telling a series of lies. According to News4Jax, she told police that she didn’t know her apartment number and she didn’t know Ebron.

Police discovered throughout the investigation the Ebron was a drug dealer and that Lonzie’s mother lived with Ebron. Police say she knew he stored and sold drugs that were stored in an unlocked location, which put both of the small children in harm’s way. Later, through more intense investigations and witnesses that knew Lonna, actually told police about a tattoo that Lonna had on her side that read …‘Ruben’.

According to News4Jax, on Aug. 18, 2015, police arrested Lonna Lauramore Barton for lying to police and two counts of child neglect, but more charges may follow. Police say they have dealt with nothing but lies from the mother Lonna and Ebron, since the 911 call came in the early hours of July 24th, 2015. Unfortunately, both parties have lied from the very beginning of the investigation, which has police frustrated and wanting justice for little Lonzie Barton.

According to WOKV, little Lonzie had a bruise to the back on his head by his ear, he was lethargic, vomiting, and he had yellow fluid coming from his ear. His mother went to work, instead of rushing the injured child to the hospital. Additionally, she had a heated argument with Ebron, but still left both minor children with him.

The investigators are piecing together a murder investigation against Ebron, because little Lonzie deserves justice and a proper burial. If the mother had a part in this crime, the investigators will charge her as well as Ebron. Right now, police are still asking everyone to pray, so they can find this adorable boy’s body. These new developments have broken the hearts of many in the First Coast community, who have helped search for this toddler.

According to First Coast News.com, after being missing for almost two months now, the police have search on a massive scale and private parties have also searched for this toddler. A week after little Lonzie went missing the police shifted from a search rescue mission to a recovery mission. According to First Coast New.com, Little Lonzie is a distant cousin to Haleigh Cummings, due the mother’s side of the family. Haleigh went missing and had never been found up to this day, even after gaining national headlines.

Recently, Lonna and Chris Barton were arrested on felony drug charges after selling drugs to an undercover cop. According to First Coast News.com, both Chris Barton and Lonna Barton were being watched by the Baker County Sheriff’s Office for several weeks now. According the spokesman, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s was not involved in this arrest or drug dealing investigation. Now, the judge are requesting the each suspect take drug tests, as well as setting a high bond for each suspect.

Little Lonzie is missing, presumably he is dead but both parents have a drug problem and they chose to continue getting high. According to First Coast News.com, the boyfriend Ruben has tried to escape and has made threatening calls, but police are asking him to come clean about the toddler’s whereabouts. So, as these parents keep making bad choices, the police can only hope that someone will break and finally reveal where little Lonzie is buried.

 

References:

First Coast News.com (2015) Attorney: Body is not needed to prosecute in a missing person’s case
Retrieved from the World Wide Web on September 16, 2015
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/2015/07/29/attorney-explains-how-to-prosecute-a-suspect-in-a-missing-persons-case-if-the-victims-body-is-not-recovered/30850649/

First Coast News.com (2015) Chris and Lonna Barton, Lonzie’s parents, arrested on drug charges
Retrieved from the World Wide Web on September 18, 2015
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/local/2015/09/16/baker-county-sheriff-news-conference-bartons/32534937/

First Coast News.com (2015) Missing boy is related to Haleigh Cummings, another missing children
Retrieved from the World Wide Web on September 16, 2015
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/local/2015/07/25/another-missing-child/30674871/

Fox30Jax.com (2015) Barton family member: Lonzie’s mom ‘evil’
Retrieved from the World Wide Web on September 16, 2015
http://www.fox30jax.com/news/news/local/barton-family-member-lonzies-mom-evil/nnQzr/

Jacksonville.com (2015) Lonzie Barton’s pleads not guilty to child neglect, giving false information charges
Retrieved from the World Wide Web on September 15, 2015
http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2015-09-09/story/mother-lonzie-barton-pleads-not-guilty-charges-child-neglect-and-giving

Jacksonville.com (2015) Man who reported Lonzie Barton missing charged with neglect; was using drugs at the time, affidavit says
Retrieved from the World Wide Web on July 26th, 2015
http://jacksonville.com/breaking-news/2015-07-24/story/man-who-reported-lonzie-barton-missing-charged-neglect-was-using

News4Jax.com (2015) Lonna Barton’s coworker opens up about the night Lonzie vanished
Retrieved from the World Wide Web on September 13, 2015
http://www.news4jax.com/news/lonna-bartons-coworker-talks-about-night-lonzie-disappeared/34808628

News4Jax.com (2015) Lonzie Barton’s mother arrested for child neglect and lying to police
Retrieved from the World Wide Web on September 6, 2015
http://www.news4jax.com/news/lonna-barton-arrested-in-lonzie-barton-case/34793284

News4Jax.com (2015) Witness: Lonzie Barton’s mother does a ‘happy dance’ as she bonds out of jail
Retrieved from the World Wide Web on September 11, 2015
http://www.news4jax.com/news/lonzies-mother-lonna-barton-bonds-out-of-jail/34891822

One News Page.com (2015) Missing Florida toddler’s mother caught on tape?
Retrieved from the World Wide Web on September 11, 2015
http://www.onenewspage.com/n/US/7556l8vb3/Missing-Florida-toddler-mother-caught-on-tape.htm

WOKV (2015) Police: Missing toddler’s mother arrested; toddler was injured before disappearance
Retrieved from the World Wide Web on September 5, 2015
http://www.wokv.com/news/news/national/jso-lonzie-barton-injured-disappearance/nnMkt/

 

 

 

                                                                     

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