JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Ruben Ebron, law enforcement's chief suspect in missing toddler Lonzie Barton, led the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office to the believed remains of the child in a wooded area on the city's Southside, authorities said.
The sheriff's office held a news conference about 4 p.m. Monday with Sheriff Mike Williams, JSO Chief of Investigations Tom Hackney and State Attorney Angela Corey to announce the discovery.
"We believe we have found the remains of 21-month-old Lonzie Barton," Williams said.
Lonzie was reported missing by his caregiver Ebron Friday, July 24, Williams said, which led JSO on an extensive search for many days throughout Jacksonville.
According to Williams, 425 officers were searching on a daily basis for Lonzie, along with assistance from 38 agencies throughout the southeast, until the search was scaled back on Aug. 2.
"This case isn't over," Hackney said.
About 4 p.m. Monday, just hours after investigators discovered the remains, a reported plea deal in the works for Ruben Ebron, law enforcement's chief suspect in the disappearance of toddler Lonzie Barton, fell through Monday afternoon, The Florida Times-Union reports.
The search area was located about 9 miles from the formerly named Ravenwood Apartments where police say Lonzie was reported missing by Ebron July 24. The scene was less than 2.5 miles away from the industrial area off Greenland Road and Philips Highway where First Coast News captured JSO searching just days after the child's reported disappearance. The sheriff's office had been investigating the area near Snyder Street in the Bayard neighborhood since Sunday evening. Neighbors described the area as "very swampy."
First Coast News has learned Chris Barton, the husband of the child's mother Lonna Lauramore Barton, has been informed of the search by Baker County officials and is currently receiving medical attention.
Lonna's brother released a statement on behalf of the Lauramore family.
"We have been praying for our nephew to be found and we our heartbroken and thankful he is found. We will continue to pray for justice and the truth. On behalf of the lauramore family..thankful for all the prayers."
The search took place on the same day that the trial of Ebron was delayed after his attorney's waived his right to a speedy trial.
Ebron is charged with two counts of child neglect, one count of giving false information to investigators and a count of evidence tampering after reporting the toddler missing last July, court records show.
He's also charged with conspiracy to escape, possession of a concealed handcuff key and introduction of contraband to a county detention facility after he was accused in August of concocting a plan to break free from police custody.
Ebron was arrested on child neglect charges hours after he reported Lonzie Barton, his then-girlfriend's son, missing July 24. Just days later, on Aug. 3, he was also charged with lying to police after JSO released surveillance video that they said discredits Ebron's story about how exactly Lonzie disappeared.
Ebron had left both Lonzie and his 5-year-old sister in his car parked outside his apartment July 24 while he went inside, he initially told police. Moments later, the 5-year-old wandered inside, Ebron said, and he ran outside to find someone driving off in his car with Lonzie still inside.
Surveillance video from a neighboring residence, however, showed Ebron driving past the night Lonzie went missing and minutes later later running past in the opposite direction, according to JSO.
Lonna Barton was arrested a month later on charges of lying to police and child neglect.
That's after she allegedly acknowledged that she noticed her son had some kind of head injury in the days leading up to his disappearance, but left him in Ebron's care anyway.
Barton, police said, also initially lied when confronted by investigators the morning Lonzie went missing July 24, allegedly saying she did not know Ebron, whom investigators have since concluded she had a romantic relationship with.
Barton pleaded guilty to child neglect and lying to police charges Thursday. Judge Borello had been set to rule Monday on whether Barton would be allowed to testify against Ebron, however, that ruling has been delayed as well.
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