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Lonzie Barton’s Mother Arrested For Child Neglect, Lying To Police

Jacksonville police have arrested the mother of missing toddler Lonzie Barton. Lonna Lauramore was arrested late Tuesday night on charges of child neglect and lying to police.

Investigations Chief Tom Hackney says Lauramore lied to investigators the night her son disappeared. She initially told police she didn’t know the man who she later admitted is her boyfriend, William “Ruben” Ebron. Ebron reported the baby missing.

“From the beginning involving Lonna Lauramore, there’s been a pattern of deception, of lies, whatever adjective you want to use to call it, it’s just not telling the truth,” Hackney said, “and if she’s not telling the truth in looking for her own 21-month-old, why? Why not?”

Hackney says two charges of child neglect are because Lauramore kept illegal drugs in a drawer where Lonzie and her 5-year-old daughter could easily access them.

Hackney also says the couple argued about a bruise Lauramore found on the baby’s head the night he disappeared. But, he says it’s unclear whether that injury may have been fatal. The baby was reported missing from the couple’s Old Kings Road apartment last month.

Jessica Palombo supervises local news gathering and production, podcasts and web editorial content for WJCT News, ADAPT and Jacksonville Today. She is an award-winning writer and journalist with bylines including NPR, Experience Magazine, and The Gainesville Sun. She has a master’s degree in broadcast and digital journalism from Syracuse University and is an alumna of the University of Florida. A nearly lifelong resident of Jacksonville, she considers herself lucky to be raising her own children in her hometown. Follow Jessica Palombo on Twitter: @JaxJessicaP