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Ebron transferred to the Florida prison system

Ruben Ebron, the Jacksonville man who pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the death of toddler Lonzie Barton, was released from the Duval County Jail early Thursday and transferred into the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections. 
There was no confirmation which prison was due to receive Ebron, who is set to begin a 20-year sentence. That process takes weeks, the Florida Department of Corrections said. 
Ebron pled guilty to the charge last week. He had been in the Duval County since the night of July 24, the same day Lonzie Barton disappeared. Barton's likely remains were found in January at a wooded side in the Bayard area of southern Duval County. Ebron led investigators to the remains as part of a plea deal. 
Prosecution said the autopsy for the body believed to be Lonzie has been completed but the cause of death undetermined. Ebron said in court that the boy drowned while he and Lonzie's mother, Lonna Lauramore Barton, were having sex in another room. 
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Chief of Investigations Tom Hackney said Ebron implicated Lauramore Barton in the boy’s death, but State Attorney Angela Corey said she doesn’t plan to charge Lauramore Barton with anything else.
Hackney said Ebron told investigators Lauramore Barton knew Lonzie was dead when she went to work at Wacko’s Gentleman’s Club that night.

During the sentencing, Ebron read a statement to the court where he apologized to Lonzie Barton and to his parents for his actions. To read the letter, click here. 

More on this story will appear on CBS47 at Noon. 

Cox Media Group

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