JACKSONVILLE, Florida — A caregiver for a missing Florida boy has been lying to investigators about the child’s disappearance, authorities said Saturday.
William Ebron initially told investigators that he had left 21-month-old Lonzie Barton of Jacksonville in a car early Friday outside the apartment where they lived with the boy’s mother, and the car was stolen with the boy still in it when he went back inside.
Initial report: At 2:22 a.m. on Friday, July 24, 2015 police responded to an Auto Theft/Abduction. A 1995 orange Honda Civic was reported stolen with a child in the vehicle. A short time later, the vehicle was located in the 8100 block of Cesperdes Avenue which is a short distance away from the apartment complex. The vehicle was located abandoned and no child was inside of the vehicle.
The mother’s boyfriend went into the apartment to get something. When he returned the vehicle and child were missing.
Investigators now believe the caregiver, William Ebron, who is the boyfriend of the missing boy’s mother, lied about the abduction. They also said he is a suspect and believe he went back into the apartment to do cocaine.
From NBC-Miami: The car Ebron reported stolen was found with its keys inside shortly after a 911 call alerted authorities to Lonzie’s disappearance. Detectives and K-9 units continued searching the area for the boy Saturday.
Ebron has stopped cooperating with investigators, who now believe he lied about Lonzie’s disappearance, Tom Hackney, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office chief of detectives, told reporters Saturday.
“Without a doubt, the report that he gave, that his car was taken by some unknown suspect and left by some unknown suspect is a lie and is not true,” Hackney said.
Ebron, 32, was arrested late Friday and charged with two counts of child neglect. His first court appearance was scheduled Saturday afternoon. Duval County jail records didn’t show whether he had an attorney.
Lonzie’s mother and father, who lives in nearby Baker County, are cooperating with police and investigators don’t believe either had anything to do with Lonzie’s disappearance, Hackney said.
The investigation is ongoing.
