- Get ready for another cold, snowy winter, Farmer's Almanac says
- Teens are making DIY braces that can ruin their teeth
- Morgan Freeman's granddaughter stabbed to death in New York
- Homeowner group threatens family with jail time over purple playground
- Cops: Boy, 6, left in car while dad, girlfriend eat out
The mother of missing 21-month-old Lonzie Barton was arrested Tuesday night.
Police said the mother of a missing toddler had information that could've helped in the investigation, but knowingly kept it from officers and left her child in the care of a known drug dealer.
Lonzie was reported missing on July 24 and are now investigating it as a homicide. Lonzie's mother, 25-year-old Lonna Lauramore, is charged with child neglect and giving false information to police.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office arrested Ruben Ebron in connection with disappearance. He pleaded not guilty on Monday to two counts of child neglect and one count of giving false information.
JSO said Lauramore and her boyfriend, Ebron, got into an intense argument the night before because Lonzie was found with a bruise to the back of his head and yellow fluid coming out of his ears. Police said the boy was lethargic and was throwing up. Despite the condition of her son, Lauramore went to work, according to JSO.
Chief of Investigations Tom Hackney said Lauramore was stopped by police the night Lonzie was reported abducted. Officers said they asked her about her boyfriend and his orange Honda Civic and she told them she denied even knowing him. Police said she eventually confessed.
JSO said Lauramore eventually told police she knew Ebron was a drug dealer who even kept narcotics unsecured in their home.
Hackney said Lauramore would take her son along when they rode with Ebron to buy and sell drugs.
Lauramore is held in the Duval County Jail on more than a $50,000 bond for her two charges.
