JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – People in the community have become emotionally invested in the search for Lonzie Barton. There have been vigils and memorials with teddy bears and candles put up near the area where Lonzie lived.
For one family, Lonzie's disappearance is a stark reminder of what happened to them in August 1990.
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Raymond Tubel said his daughter, Kristy, was abducted in the Regency area when she was 9-months old after someone jumped into the car she was in and took off. Her parents, along with police, found the car abandoned on the north side four hours later. Kristy was still strapped in her car seat when they found the car.
Raymond Tubel has passed by the Southside command center several times. Sunday he decided to stop. He said the search for Lonzie and the uncertainty of his disappearance has brought up old memories.
Kristy just got married, a proud moment her father feared wouldn't happen in 1990.
"My wife went in to get my son and when she did somebody got in the car and left," Raymond Tubel says.
Raymond Tubel says his wife was in shock. Kristy was strapped into her car seat at the time. He says all they could do was put their trust in officers to bring their daughter home. Later that day his optimism paid off.
"We found the car abandoned four hours later on the Northside and she was still in the back seat. It makes you thankful for what you've got because some people don't get them back. When I got there it was very emotional. What can you say? You hadn't seen her in hours and then you get her back, it's like you didn't think you were," Tubel said.
He's invested in the search for Lonzie. When he first heard the story he expected they'd find Lonzie quickly.
"Everything is within time limits. The sooner you can find them the better off they are. Just pray. That's all you can do, pray for the family," Tubel said.
Tubel said the person responsible for taking his wife's car 25 years ago was never found. He hopes whoever is involved in Lonzie's disappearance is held accountable.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is still looking into tips from the public in the search for Lonzie. Anyone with any tips that could help with the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.