DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — What volunteers thought was their biggest lead yet in the search for 21-month-old Lonzie Barton turned out to be a false hope.
It has been exactly one month since Lonzie disappeared. With each passing day, those looking for him are feeling defeated.
"You hope you find him to bring closure but that's not something you want to find," said Stephanie Johnson, a search volunteer.
Investigators are finding anything but closure.
Around 8:40 p.m. Sunday, a volunteer search party of eight looked for Lonzie.
They say family member clues led them to Cuba Hunter Park, off Bedford Road, which is a few hundred yards from Emerson Street.
As they were searching the wooded area, they came across something bizarre -- two ceramic angels lying on a mound of dirt.
"The angels were placed over on the right hand side," Johnson said.
The volunteers then called police and JSO taped off the area and guarded it all night, at times searching with flashlights.
At daylight, crews focused on the area where the figurines were found.
By mid-morning, they emerged from the woods saying they found nothing.
But volunteers remain determined to find Lonzie Barton.
"My son actually asked for Lonzie to come home so he could play with him. And that's the hardest thing. I feel like if I don't bring him home alive, I am going to disappoint my son," said Tiffany Haynes, a search volunteer.
Volunteers said they will continue to search this area and other woods surrounding it.
JSO is still looking for tips that could lead to a closing of this case.
Two crime scene units in the woods @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/KF5Vl0ljBv
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) August 24, 2015Tape is coming down @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/TUt7bqY7vX
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) August 24, 2015Lonzie's mother, 25-year-old Lonna Lauramore, was arrested Tuesday night for child neglect and giving false information to police. She did not enter a plea during her first appearance on Wednesday.
Lauramore's bond was set at more than $50,000 and her next court date was set for Sept. 9.
JSO also arrested Ruben Ebron, Lauramore's boyfriend, in connection with the child's disappearance. He pleaded not guilty last week to two counts of child neglect and one count of giving false information.
https://twitter.com/JSOPIO/status/635816279639760896
Anyone who has any information regarding Lonzie's disappearance is asked to call JSO at 904-630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.
WJAX
