JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sheriff Mike Williams spoke for the first time about the search for Lonzie Barton as the investigation into the 21-month-old's disappearance headed into its eleventh day.
"I'm extremely pleased with the effort we've put forth in this case," said Sheriff Williams during Sunday's police briefing on the case.
Williams was gone last week on a pre-planned family vacation, but had been in regular contact with the people handling the search and investigation.
Read: Sheriff's absence explained during search for Lonzie
Seventy searchers were out on the Southside looking for the child on Sunday. They were double and triple checking areas they have searched already along Old Kings Road near the Ravenwood Apartments, where Lonzie was reported missing.
Chief Tom Hackney with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said that search would likely be wrapped up by the end of Sunday.
Hackney also said they are continuing to build a criminal case against the 32-year-old man who was watching the toddler at the time, Ruben Ebron.
Police said Ebron's story that the boy was taken during an auto theft early the morning of July 24 is a lie. Since late that day, Ebron has been in the Duval County jail charged with two counts of child neglect.
"The story he told us, the story he told The Florida Star is not the facts we're operating off of," said Chief Hackney on Sunday.
Read: Ruben Ebron sticks to story in interview
Sheriff Williams said he has not personally talked with Ebron. "I'm going to hold my thoughts about Ebron to myself," said Sheriff Williams. "He does hold the key."
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of $12,800 for anyone with information that leads authorities to Lonzie. The reward has been growing all week, increased by donations from area businesses and citizens.
"I have to reiterate this again, this is anonymous information. You can pick up a pay phone. Giving this information is key," Hackney said.
The search was scaled back Saturday, down from over 200 people late last week, to 72.
Police plan to check new areas as evidence and tips provide additional information.
Sonja Norman, the first wife of Lonzie's father, Chris Barton, told News4Jax the entire situation is so sad, but she is thankful for the efforts to find the toddler.
Norman understands that police can't reveal all of their evidence against Ebron, but wonders if there's still a chance Lonzie could be alive.
"I think the public has been so supportive and we all deserve to know a little something," Norman said. "I mean, I know that there's things they can't tell because of the investigation, but, just something. Do you have concrete evidence that Lonzie will not come home alive? Or do you not have that and there's a chance that he's still alive?"
After the first several days, JSO Chief of Investigations Tom Hackney said the chance of finding Lonzie alive was "slipping away" and began talking in terms of recovering a body and building a murder case against Ebron.
Chief Hackney said they no longer planned to hold 12pm daily news briefings about the case but as information breaks, he will step back out to update the public on the latest developments.