JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The search for 21-month-old Lonzie Barton has expanded into areas north of the Trout River and east of Interstate 95 as police continue to track the travel of the suspect's orange 1995 Honda Civic between 7 p.m. Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has relocated its command center from the Southside, near where the toddler disappeared almost a week ago, to New Berlin Elementary School. Hundreds of law enforcement officers from a dozen sheriff's offices and police departments and other first responders set out Thursday morning to search a massive area (see map below).
Ann Williams, who has lived for 40 years near where Starratt Road backs up to a creek feeding the Nassau River, awoke Thursday to police from various agencies and K-9 teams searching around her property.
"We knew they were coming out this way; I heard it on the news last night," Williams said. "They're doing a great job. It's great, what they're doing, and I hope they find the little fellow."
With the expanded search other residents are shaken up about the fact that the search is now heading into an area where many children live.
"When I first found out the search was going on and they were using the school to kind of get everyone together, I was kind of shocked like, 'Wow, it's actually across the street from us.' But like I said, 'Evil is everywhere,'" resident Lindsey Bosque said.
Bosque and her husband are like many in the neighborhood, young parents, keeping an eye on their very young children. She said the recent search for Lonzie is heartbreaking and serves as a reminder to keep a close eye on her 15-month-old and 3-year-old.
"Just always keep your eyes on your kids no matter what. If you have a gut feeling just always go with it. If you feel like something's wrong with a sitter you leave them with, just go with it, because you have that feeling for a reason," Bosque said.
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Chief of Investigations Tom Hackney said as of noon Thursday, police have received 379 tips in the case that is now "more of a murder investigation."
UNCUT: Thursday's police briefing on case
Firehouse Subs, businesses and individuals have donated to increase the special Crime Stoppers reward for finding Lonzie's body to $11,500. Crime Stoppers is accepting donations toward the reward for Lonzie's recovery. To donate, go to fccrimestoppers.com, click "Donate" at the bottom of the welcome page and then include "Enhance Reward in Lonzie Barton Recovery" in the comments section.
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Donations can also be made by phone at 904-398-5883 or mailed (include a "Enhance Reward in Lonzie Barton Recovery" note) to First Coast Crime Stoppers, P.O. Box 47875, Jacksonville, FL 32247-7875.
Rewards are usually paid upon an arrest, but due to the urgency of this case, tips leading to the recovery of Lonzie's body would qualify for the reward.
A separate $4,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest in the case.
The community has responded with support for the searchers by bringing donations of water, sports drinks and supplies to the Command Post. Police also asked for donations of bug spray and sunscreen and got overwhelming response.
"The support displayed by the community has been absolutely overwhelming. The community has done more than could ever be asked for, and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office along with the assisting agencies thank you," JSO spokesman Christian Hancock said. "At this time, due to the tremendous amount of goods donated, we are asking that citizens refrain from bringing any further items. We believe we have enough at this moment to last for many days to come."
Hancock said if the need arises again, JSO will let the community know.
"We hope that prior to needing more supplies, this incident will have seen a resolution," Hancock said.
One little boy on Wednesday donated a box of dog treats for the K-9 officers, who were out in force with their handlers on Thursday, sniffing around Northside neighborhoods.
JSO tweeted a picture of the boy, named Colton Scews, with Hackney, who said during Thursday's media update that he was moved by the boy, who ran up to hug him and say he'd been praying for Lonzie.
VIDEO: Colton helped investigators
"We've been watching from the beginning haven't we? And we've been praying for Lonzie," Kimberly Screws, Colton's mom, said.
"Yeah we've been praying for Lonzie and his mommy and daddy," Colton said.
Kimberly Screws said she and Colton got the idea to help from social media.
"We just had seen on social media a lot of people asking for supplies. Bug spray, water and that stuff. So we went to the store yesterday and got bug spray, chips and sunscreen. And Colton said, ‘What about the police dogs?' And I said, "OK,' and we got them treats," Kimberly Screw said.
Colton headed down, fed the search dogs, found Hackney and impacted the face of this investigation.
"This has tugged on my heart -- this whole case from the beginning -- that melted my heart yesterday," Hackney said. "There's not been much to smile about. That was something yesterday that I could smile about."
This isn't a new thing for Colton and his mom, they've been involved with other high profile missing person's cases, and are friends with Somer Thompson's family.
Kimberly Screw said she's remained close with the Thompsons as Colton has grown. Somer was the little Orange Park girl murdered while walking home from school by a man in her neighborhood.
"Just because from day one with the Somer situation, it's close to my heart. And when we first met Somer's family, it was right after he was born and as a mom I can only imagine the pain," Kimberly Screw said
And now as Colton dreams of the idea of becoming a police officer when he grows up, he's doing what he can now to help the officers on two legs and four.
"Grandpa was a policeman too, so I like policeman," Colton said.
In addition to all the people and agencies that have assisted JSO in the search over the last several days, 75 Navy personnel joined the effort Thursday morning.
"They were standing there tall, ready to do what they could do," Hackney said.
Police are still asking the public to help by letting them know if the distinctive car belonging to Ruben Ebron, the boyfriend of Lonzie's mother, was seen last Thursday night. Investigators have said they received specific information that Ebron may have traveled up Interstate 95 or Main Street after dropping the children's mother off at work. Ebron, who has been named a suspect in the case, was watching Lonzie and his sister that night.
Given that new information, Hackney asked anyone who lives or works east of I-95 between the Southside and Nassau County to try to remember if they saw that car (pictured below) or to review any surveillance video to see if it passed their business or home.
"The potential strongly exists that he's told somebody (where he left Lonzie)," Hackney said of Ebron. "I need to find Lonzie's body. This community needs to find Lonzie's body. This has caused heartbreak throughout this community, throughout each one of these searchers."
IMAGES: Honda Civic appearance during day, at night
Anyone who saw the car or has surveillance video they believe could help is asked to call JSO at 904-630-0500. Anyone knowing where Lonzie's body should call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.
