Community rallies to support searchers

Citizens offer donations to aid those searching for Lonzie Barton

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An overwhelming number of people have brought water, snacks and supplies to help investigators searching for missing toddler Lonzie Barton.

The 21-month-old disappeared late Thursday night or early Friday morning while in the care of his mother's boyfriend, William Ruben Ebron Jr., who is now considered a suspect in the case.

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Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Chief of Investigations Tom Hackney said the JSO command post for the search has seen non-stop donation drop-offs.

"Yesterday and today, I am proud to be from Jacksonville. We reached out to this community and they stepped up," Hackney said. "The support that this community has given to this child, to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office … it's just amazing."

The Sheriff's Office has asked citizens who want to donate to bring water, Gatorade, snacks or bug spray. Donations can be coordinated with the volunteer liaison at 904-307-0216.

Ebron reported about 2 a.m. Friday that Lonzie had been abducted in a car theft. Police later said that Ebron's original story was a lie and began retracing his steps, trying to find the missing toddler.

As time slips away,Hackney said it's less and less likely that Lonzie's search will have a happy ending.

"This is less of a missing persons investigation and more of a homicide investigation," Hackney said. "Those (search) efforts will continue until we have nowhere else to go and no puddle to get in, no tree to get under and no rock to overturn -- until we do everything we can to locate Lonzie."

To help the search effort, one little boy decided to donate a year's worth of his savings on Wednesday to the searchers.

"It's to give the police officers so they can work harder," 4-year-old William Abney said, holding up what amounted to less than a dollar.

William (pictured) and his mother also donated snacks and water to the searchers.

William said that if he ever met Lonzie, he would ask the toddler to be his friend.

"And I would give him a couple of my money," William said.

There have been many similar touching stories of citizens doing what they can to aid the searchers.

Some are keeping Lonzie's memorial packed with teddy bears, flowers and balloons.

Hackney said an anonymous donor helped increase the CrimeStoppers reward for information leading to the discovery of Lonzie's body to $4,000.

"I need to find Lonzie's body. This community needs to find Lonzie's body," Hackney said. "This has caused heartbreak throughout this community."

While the community waits for those answers, citizens continue to do what they can for those searching for them.