Boughtthefarm
1:08 pm on November 3rd, 2009
OMG she is too cute! Looks like an alien but she is adorable. I hope they find this precious baby but odds aren’t that great.
adorkable
1:22 pm on November 3rd, 2009
flags up all over the place on the parents in this story. Police don’t suspect abduction? Yeah, one or both of the parents are behind this one, it seems
dawnmpeters
4:16 pm on November 3rd, 2009
http://www2.dothaneagle.com/dea/news/crime_courts/article/search_continues_for_missing_baby_in_chipley/105570/
For the past two months, Tanya Wilt and Tina Blaylock received periodic visits from a mother and her docile infant daughter who lived next door in this Washington County, Fla., town.
They’ve been neighbors for the past two months. Their mobile homes are separated by just a few feet at the end of a dirt road off Brown Street in Chipley.
“(The mother) came by a lot to borrow cigarettes or use the microwave to pop popcorn,” Wilt said. “She would have the baby sometimes. They bragged about that baby everywhere, all the time. She was a totally happy and content child, always. We never once heard her cry.”
Something happened early Saturday morning that has investigators as well as search and rescue teams from several neighboring counties searching the thick, wooded, marshy area around the home for 7-month-old Shannon Lea Dedrick. Her parents reported her missing at 11:23 a.m. Saturday, prompting an intensive search of the area. She is still missing.
Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock said investigators have been talking to a “person of suspicion” they believe could resolve the case. Haddock was tightlipped about the details surrounding Shannon Lea’s disappearance, citing an ongoing investigation. He declined to release the parents’ names. He also declined to release the person of suspicion’s name or relation, if any, to the parents.
Wilt and Blaylock said they saw what they believed to be a grey van near the residence the night Shannon Lea went missing. They said the van has been at the residence numerous times over the past two months.
Haddock said several search and rescue teams from the region began an arm-to-arm search of the immediate area around the residence Saturday morning.
The search extended Sunday and continued into the evening on Monday. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is also assisting with the investigation.
“We’re hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst,” Haddock said.
Haddock said Shannon Lea’s parents called the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to report her missing Saturday, telling investigators she was in the same bedroom as the parents and could have gone missing as early as 3 a.m. or as late as 11 a.m. He did not indicate whether the parents were believed to be implicated in her disappearance, but did say they have no past criminal history. He described the parents’ emotional state as “upset.”
Search and rescue personnel created a staging area at the old Washington County landfill not far from Brown Street and used all terrain vehicles and horses to navigate the thick woods. Scent-specific dogs are also being used. Haddock said the dogs picked up a faint scent briefly, but nothing that led investigators to a specific site.
“The dogs are more effective in tracking a person that walked away from a place, but this baby couldn’t walk,” Haddock said. “The child cannot walk or crawl. It did not leave the residence by itself.”
Haddock said the parents have chosen not to make a public statement.
“We are making that appeal and acting for the family,” Haddock said.
Wilt and Blaylock said they were surprised to learn about Shannon Lea’s disappearance.
“This is crazy,” Wilt said. “This is something you always hear about happening somewhere else. You never think about it happening in your backyard.”
dawnmpeters
4:24 pm on November 3rd, 2009

The case was growing more difficult to piece together Monday as Haddock said investigators did have a “person of interest” in the case but that there was no sign of any abduction.
The person of interest remained unnamed.
So did Shannon’s parents, whom Haddock said had no significant prior run-ins with law enforcement. The parents were not speaking to reporters; Haddock spoke on their behalf at an afternoon press conference.
A state Department of Children and Families spokeswoman said the agency was helping authorities in the case. Any records of agency action on the child’s behalf, however, would be confidential unless Shannon was found dead, said spokeswoman Barbara Ash.
“We don’t know where the baby could be,” Ash said. “It’s heartbreaking. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed that they find her.”
Neighbors of the taped-off trailer said the rural dirt-road community was quiet, and most residents kept to themselves. Some had never seen the family. They had no information about any unusual activity there the night of Shannon’s disappearance.
“They had only lived here about two months. I only know that this is a wonderful neighborhood and I’ve always felt safe here,” said Donna Davis, who lives two homes down.
“I just know there’s a baby missing and I hope they find it,” said another neighbor, Susan Martinez.
Several children played in the road Monday as a sheriff’s deputy guarded the scene and nearly 100 volunteers and officers searched the woods. The barking of search dogs echoed.
The trailer’s lights were on after dusk Monday, but a sheriff’s deputy outside said he did not know if anyone was inside. It appeared to be empty, with the doors and windows, closed and intact, showing no signs of forced entry.
Haddock earlier said he would not call the search a recovery effort; he termed it a rescue. But nearly 100 searchers during Monday’s effort were poking long sticks through thickets lining Brown Street and doubling back to search again in spots where trash was heavy.
dawnmpeters
4:41 pm on November 3rd, 2009
http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20091103/NEWS01/911030310/1001/NEWS
The case was growing more difficult to piece together Monday as Haddock said investigators did have a “person of interest” in the case but that there was no sign of any abduction.
The person of interest remained unnamed.
So did Shannon’s parents, whom Haddock said had no significant prior run-ins with law enforcement. The parents were not speaking to reporters; Haddock spoke on their behalf at an afternoon press conference.
A state Department of Children and Families spokeswoman said the agency was helping authorities in the case. Any records of agency action on the child’s behalf, however, would be confidential unless Shannon was found dead, said spokeswoman Barbara Ash.
dawnmpeters
9:38 pm on November 3rd, 2009

There are a few new details tonight in the case of a 7-month old baby, missing from her Chipley home.
NewsChannel 7 has confirmed the names of Shannon Dedrick’s parents, Christina Mercer and Rusty Dedrick.
Boughtthefarm
10:17 am on November 4th, 2009
Are the parents minors?? Why did it take so long to release their names?
MadeaBecBec
3:32 pm on November 4th, 2009
This just keeps getting more and more Strange!
Sitter Susan Baker sent a letter to Gov. Charlie Crist months before baby Shannon vanished pleading with him to save the little girl from her drug-abusing parents.
Authorities confirmed to the News Herald Wednesday that they are investigating Baker to see if she is the same Susan Baker implicated in a 26-year-old missing child case that never has been solved.
They’re also looking at whether Baker was involved in Shannon’s disappearance because of similarities between that and the 1987 cold case in South Carolina, the News Herald reported.
Investigators at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office are now trying to find out whether she is the same Susan Baker suspected of involvement in the March 1987 disappearance of 6-year-old Paul Baker in Beaufort, S.C. The boy has never been found.
I sure hope Shannon is alive and was just taken to be protected and LOVED.
Source
MadeaBecBec
3:56 pm on November 4th, 2009
You can read the actual letter to Governor here:
http://video.onset.freedom.com/newsherald/kskf95-bakerletter.pdf
CassieMomma
4:26 pm on November 4th, 2009
That’s sad madabecbec, maybe that’s why the baby was having growth problems if drugs were involved. 11 lbs seems awfully small for a 7 month old. Also sometimes you get so worn out and if your baby finally sleeps through the night you still wake up with that ohmygosh is everything ok? It’s a weird feeling when that happens, but in my experience it was usually still very early in the morning, not 11. Sounds like this baby didn’t have much of a chance, but there’s that sliver of hope that she was taken to be cared for…….
Wonder
7:36 am on November 5th, 2009
http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/69002287.html
Updated: 9:05 PM Nov 3, 2009
NewsChannel 7 Confirms The Names of Missing Chipley Baby’s Parents
There are a few new details tonight in the case of a 7-month old baby, missing from her Chipley home. NewsChannel 7 has confirmed the names of Shannon Dedrick’s parents, Christina Mercer and Rusty Dedrick.
Posted: 9:05 PM Nov 3, 2009
There are a few new details tonight in the case of a 7-month old baby, missing from her Chipley home.
NewsChannel 7 has confirmed the names of Shannon Dedrick’s parents, Christina Mercer and Rusty Dedrick.
Shannon disappeared from the home sometime Saturday morning.
We’re standing here near the Dedrick’s residence in Chipley where authorities have now removed the crime scene tape from their home.
However, we can no longer go back there because it is considered private property.But we are learning more and more about Shannon Dedrick’s parents as the search continues for her both on-the-ground and in-the-air.
Choppers circled for hours high-above-the-sky on Tuesday, hoping to find anything that would lead them to 7-month-old Shannon Dedrick.
On the ground, several different teams combed through debris, others used search dogs, some searched on horseback.
“It’s kinda scary, whether it’s family or a friend involved, it really doesn’t matter, it’s just the fact that it happened and nobody even knows yet so it’s really scary,” says resident Lisa France.
There are still many unanswered questions surrounding Shannon Dedrick’s disappearance.
Investigators say she disappeared from her Brown Street home between the hours of 3am to 11am on Sunday.
NewsChannel 7 has learned she was last seen in the custody of her parents, Christina Mercer and Rusty Dedrick.
We spoke with Shannon’s great aunt, Lynda Padgett, who says they have also been left in the dark about what’s happening.
“The clock is ticking away and she’s just an innocent little child who you know, just deserves better.”
She also says she’s not sure if Christina would hurt Shannon.
“I think if Tina did something then she was definitely not in her right mind when she did it. I really can’t say that I think or don’t think that she’s capable of it.”
But some people believe it is possible.
“Not the father, I wouldn’t think the father, no, not at all.”
“He’s too heartbroken and distraught.”
“I wouldn’t know what to say about the mom but not the father.”
Once again, Shannon Dedrick is about 24 inches tall and weighs about 11 pounds.
If you have any information about this case, please contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at (850)-638-6111.
http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/69225777.html#
Updated: 9:29 PM Nov 4, 2009
Babysitter of Missing Chipley Girl May Be A Suspect
There appears to be a visible shift in the investigation into the disappearance of 7-month-old Shannon Dedrick.
NewsChannel 7 has learned her babysitter, Susan Baker, may be a suspect in the case.
The babysitter allegedly wrote a letter to Governor Charlie Crist back in August, warning him Shannon could be in danger.
But Baker was also involved in the 1987 disappearance of a Beaufort, South Carolina boy.
Susan Baker came to the public’s attention Wednesday morning after a newspaper published an e-mail she sent to Governor Charlie Crist.
The August e-mail warned Crist that the baby was in danger, and her parents, Christina Mercer and Rusty Dedrick, were the source of the trouble.
Baker told the paper about a number of issues, including the parent’s alleged use of marijuana.
But now it appears Baker may, herself, be a suspect in Shannon Dedrick’s disappearance.
NewsChannel 7 has learned that in 2000, Baker and her husband, James, were extradited from Chipley back to Beaufort, South Carolina for the 1987 disappearance of Paul Baker, James’ 3-year-old son by his first wife.
Susan was the boy’s babysitter.
She and James Baker had an affair, and married after he divorced Paul’s mother.
At that time, Susan Baker told South Carolina authorities she put Paul down for a nap, only to come back and discover him missing.
The boy was never found.
Susan Baker was sentenced to 10 years in prison for abusing the couple’s daughter.
She was later released with time served, and the couple returned to Chipley.Wednesday, Washington County Sheriff’s investigators said they were aware of Susan Baker’s background.
But they would not confirm if she is their person of interest in Shannon Dedrick’s disappearance.
Law enforcement vehicles blocked the driveway to the Baker’s home on Orange Hill Road most of the day.
The Bakers did not answer any of our telephone calls.As for the search for the missing 7-month old baby, there is nothing new.
Shannon Dedrick disappeared from her Brown Street home in Chipley on Saturday, October 31st.
She was last seen with her parents between 3am to 11am.And with each day that passes, the chances of finding baby Shannon alive diminishes.
If you have any information about this case, please contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at (850)-638-6111.
There are video’s at the link, the governor or whoever explains that the child protective agency did check the child, at the board of health and the child was in good health and no signs of shaking baby.
sarabei
7:41 am on November 5th, 2009
She has been found alive thank God!!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33648247/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts
I can’t wait til the details of THIS all comes out..poor little thing!!
Wonder
8:53 am on November 5th, 2009
Tot missing for 5 days found alive under bed
Police: Seven-month-old girl is discovered at baby sitter’s home; 3 arrested
CHIPLEY, Fla. – A tot missing for five days has been found alive under her baby sitter’s bed (in a box), authorities said early Thursday. Police said three people had been detained in the case.
Haddock said deputies were working to charge Baker, her husband James Arthur Baker and Chrystina Lynn Mercer, who is the child’s mother.
authorities don’t believe the father was involved in her disappearance. He said Susan Baker and the father are related.
How they described the conditions, geeesh
The Florida Department of Children and Families said it investigated the baby’s mother and father after the August complaint, and workers have had “a lot of involvement” with the family, WESH said.
But investigators did not find legal grounds to take the infant away, an official told the station.
Earlier in the week, police said they believe the tot disappeared from her home in this remote, makeshift community of dirt roads, tin-roof shacks and old mobile homes sometime before 8 a.m. Saturday. Her parents reported her missing around 11 a.m.
“We have searched every dumpster in the city limits of Chipley, we have turned over every garbage can,” Haddock told reporters on Monday.
‘The child cannot walk or crawl’
At the time, Haddock said search teams had been focused on the densely wooded area surrounding the enclave about 45 miles north of Panama City where the girl and her family live.
“The child cannot walk or crawl, it did not leave the residence by itself,” he said.
Neighbors in the ramshackle neighborhood of clotheslines and “Beware of Dog” and “No Trespassing” signs on Monday said they rarely spoke to or saw the parents of the missing infant.
“They had only lived here about two months. I only know that this is a wonderful neighborhood and I’ve always felt safe here,” said Donna Davis, who lives two homes down.
Thanks sarabei, yes indeed great news!
Jaded
9:09 am on November 5th, 2009
How very fucking strange….
Reputable
11:56 am on November 5th, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091105/ap_on_re_us/us_missing_florida_baby
Snippets:
Haddock said deputies plan to charge Baker, husband James Arthur Baker, and the child’s mother, Chrystina Lynn Mercer.
He would not specify Mercer’s role in the disappearance but said authorities do not believe the baby’s father, James Russell Dedrick Jr., was involved. Dedrick Jr. and Susan Baker are related.
……
A massive manhunt in the swampy area around the Bakers’ home turned up nothing, and she and her husband, James Baker, were extradited to South Carolina in 2000 to be charged in the child’s disappearance. Susan Baker was never indicted and authorities could not say what became of the charges against her husband. The child was never found.
Susan Baker did serve prison time after authorities investigating her stepson’s disappearance discovered a 6-year-old girl in their home had been badly beaten. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison but the sentence was suspended after 80 days. Authorities could not say how the girl was related to Baker.
Reputable
12:19 pm on November 5th, 2009
This Susan Elizabeth Baker is one twisted evil psycho:
http://www.examiner.com/x-7403-Tampa-Crime-Examiner~y2009m11d5-Shannon-Dedrick-found-alive-hidden-in-a-box-under-babysitters-bed-video
Snippet:
Susan Baker had reportedly stated that she was taking a nap on March 5, 1987 and when she awoke, 3 year old Paul had disappeared. A search team investigated the area surrounding the Baker’s home but they found no sign or trace of Paul. When detectives spoke with Susan Baker’s daughter, who was 6 years old) they discovered that she had been severely and brutally beaten. Both of Susan Baker’s daughter’s hands had been broken and she had sores on her back. She was charged and convicted for assault and battery with intent to kill. Susan Baker had been sentenced to 10 years in prison but only served 80 days.
Paul Baker is featured with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. You may read his poster and see an age progressed photo of Paul Baker here.
http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewChildDetail&caseNum=600583&orgPrefix=NCMC&seqNum=1&caseLang=en_US&searchLang=en_US
MadeaBecBec
2:22 pm on November 5th, 2009
Such relief, Thank God!!
“Statistically speaking this should not have ever happened, that we found this child alive, especially after so many days. Time was against us,” Haddock said.
Shannon was taken to a hospital but appeared healthy, Haddock said.
“It was very emotional for us, because once we got her to the hospital, we called our wives and every one of us was crying. Grown men crying. It’s just such a relief,” he said. “We’ve had missing children cases in the past, but nothing like this.”
In response to Bakers letter to the Governor….
“And my response is, ‘We saved the child, Ms. Baker,” Haddock said.
I suspected Baker all along, she’s a bit nutty, but I believe she is trying to make things right with this child, to make up for the wrongs she committed to the other children. Can’t be undone, especially this way.
I am so happy Shannon Lea is safe and healthy.
Source
sarabei
3:10 pm on November 5th, 2009
I really hope this child gets put someplace save and wonderful….Poor tiny thing! I am just thankful she is alive!
Boughtthefarm
9:17 pm on November 5th, 2009
You know these cops have to be feeling pretty teriffic right now. They never expected a happy ending 5 days ago [or however many it has been now], nobody did. Shannon is a beautiful baby and I hope she gets a great home. I suppose they will give her back to daddy – maybe, maybe not.
Wonder
4:34 am on November 6th, 2009
Child found
3395 Orange Hill Road
Chipley, FL
THE BOX at 3:04
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbmHTQTjH8o
***PICTURE? OF THE CEDAR CHEST WHERE SHANNON WAS PLACED FOR 12 HOURS ***
the maternal grandmother drove, from texas to the press conference, she was featured on the nancy grace show. She appeared to just glow with love for the poor child as if she had just seen the baby for the first time.
Grandmother Kandis Boyer and her two daughters left Texas at 6 a.m. Tuesday and drove all the way to Chipley.
photo’s from the press conference
http://www.newsherald.com/news/shannon-78823-alive-video.html
http://www.fosterfollynews.com/news/2009Nov5BabyShannonFoundUnderBed.php
(photo # 3) Kandis Boyer, Crystina’s mother, had made the trip from San Antonio, Texas to be with her daughter (photo #4). Boyer said Crystina had spent the day with her and her two sisters and were settling in for the night when Sheriff Haddock called and asked that Crystina be brought to his office.
Boyer said her concerns were initially centered on finding Shannon, but now that the baby is safe she wants to see that Crystina receives the help she needs. She described her daughter as “very confused”.
http://www.panhandleparade.com/index.php/mbb/article/news_conference_on_missing_baby_scheduled_for_100_a.m._thursday/mbb7719708/#ixzz0VyJkQOPp
On NG there was a caller, speaking how the baby’s eye don’t look happy. The doctor on the panel had to agree that the baby is malnourished her head is enlarged due to the lack of nutrition and it shows in her eyes.
They also say Dedrick and Mercer are not married and are no longer together.
The maternal grandmother of Shannon came to the news conference all the way from Texas. She tells News 13 she had suspicions that her daughter might be involved in the case some how.
Both sides of the family were preparing for the worst. But when they learned she was alive it was a range of emotions from cheers to tears. Sheriff Haddock brought the baby over to Shannon’s grandmother and aunt so they could hug and kiss her.
The baby was taken back to the hospital after the news conference. It’s not clear at this time who will get custody of baby Shannon but both sides of the family tell News 13 that would be willing to care for her.
News 13 will have all the details as soon as they released.
PHOTOS : Christina Mercer and Susan Baker http://www.panhandleparade.com/index.php/mbb/article/mother_and_aunt_charged_in_disappearance_of_baby_shannon/mbb7719718/
PHOTO: Susan
http://www.newsherald.com/news/span-78790-baker-class.html
Sheriff Haddock had tears in his eyes at an early Thursday morning news conference where he presented baby Shannon alive. He again fought back the tears later Thursday morning in a second news conference as he discussed the 2 x 3 cedar box Shannon was found in.
Authorites believe she had been closed up inside the box for 12 hours. She did not have a bottle in the box. Inside the shut box with Shannon was only baking powder to cover the smell of a dirty diaper and a blanket that was wrapped around her.
Sheriff Haddock says Shannon was fed and in good condition but was rushed to Northwest Florida Communty Hospital to be checked out. That’s when he says several of his officers began calling their wives and crying. She is doing well at this hour. The Department of Children and Families will determine who gets custody of Shannon. Several family members tell News 13 that they would be happy to care for her.
Investigators say that Shannon’s mother, Chrystina Mercer, arranged to give Shannon to Baker on Friday. They believe the exchange took place at the mailbox at the end of Mercer’s drive on Brown Street in Chipley around 1:30 a.m. Saturday. Arraignments for Mercer and Baker will be held Thursday afternoon at the Washington County Courthouse.
Hours after the reported exchange at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Shannon was reported missing by her mother. Since that time rescue crews from across the Panhandle and nation searched desperately for baby Shannon. Sheriff Haddock says around 3,770 rescue man hours were logged. Law enforcement and search and rescue crews from from Washington, Liberty, Gulf and Bay Counties assisted. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Department of Corrections and FBI also gave aid in the case.
Sheriff Haddock says Mercer and Baker were persons of interest in the case from the beginning because they were two of the three people to last see the child since Friday. Shannon’s father and Baker’s step-brother, Rusty Dedrick, was also one of the last to see Shannon but authorities say he was not involved in the arrangement between Mercer and Baker. He also says Baker ridculed their investigation never knowing she was under the radar.
Susan Baker’s husband, James, was taken into custody Wednesday night, but he was released around 3:00 a.m. Thursday morning. He is not facing any charges at this time. Sheriff Haddock says they are still working with the State Attorney’s Office to determine if any charges will be filed. He did say that James Baker was not invovled in the agreement between Mercer and Susan Baker.
————————————-
For Immediate Release
November 5, 2009
Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock today announces the arrest of Susan Baker, 50, and Crystina Lynn Mercer, 25, both of Chipley, in the disappearance of seven-month-old Shannon Dedrick.
Baker, the child’s babysitter and half-sister to the child’s father, was charged with:
• Neglect of a child with aggravated circumstances – 2nd degree felony
• Interference with child custody – 3rd degree felony
• Filing a false report regarding a missing child – 1st degree misdemeanor
• Filing a false report of a crime – 1st degree misdemeanor
• Contributing to the delinquency of a child – 1st degree misdemeanor
Mercer, the child’s mother, was charged with:
• Interference with child custody – 3rd degree felony
• Desertion of a child – 3rd degree felony
• Filing a false report regarding a missing child – 1st degree misdemeanor
• Filing a false report of a crime – 1st degree misdemeanor
• Contributing to the delinquency of a child – 1st degree misdemeanor
Investigators learned that on the night of Oct. 30 Baker and Mercer agreed to allow Baker to take permanent custody of the baby. The two arranged to meet at 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 31 at Mercer’s residence for Mercer to give the child to Baker. Mercer later reported the child missing at 11:23 a.m.
Shannon Dedrick was safely located at 9:55 p.m. last night at Baker’s residence located at 3395 Orange Hill Road in Chipley after Baker gave investigators consent to search the residence. The baby was found in a 2-foot by 3-foot wooden box under a bed in Baker’s home.
The baby was taken to Northwest Florida Community Hospital where she was evaluated. The child is currently in the care of Florida Department of Children and Families.
Susan Baker’s husband, James Baker, was detained last night but has since been released.
Baker and Mercer were booked into the Washington County Jail.
http://www.panhandleparade.com/index.php/mbb/article/mother_and_aunt_charged_in_disappearance_of_baby_shannon/mbb7719718/
Wonder
4:41 am on November 6th, 2009
Child found
3395 Orange Hill Road
Chipley, FL
THE BOX at 3:04
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbmHTQTjH8o
***PICTURE? OF THE CEDAR CHEST WHERE SHANNON WAS PLACED FOR 12 HOURS ***
Wonder
4:43 am on November 6th, 2009
PHOTOS : Christina Mercer and Susan Baker http://www.panhandleparade.com/index.php/mbb/article/mother_and_aunt_charged_in_disappearance_of_baby_shannon/mbb7719718/
PHOTO: younger Susan
http://www.newsherald.com/news/span-78790-baker-class.html
Sheriff Haddock had tears in his eyes at an early Thursday morning news conference where he presented baby Shannon alive. He again fought back the tears later Thursday morning in a second news conference as he discussed the 2 x 3 cedar box Shannon was found in.
Authorites believe she had been closed up inside the box for 12 hours. She did not have a bottle in the box. Inside the shut box with Shannon was only baking powder to cover the smell of a dirty diaper and a blanket that was wrapped around her.
Sheriff Haddock says Shannon was fed and in good condition but was rushed to Northwest Florida Communty Hospital to be checked out. That’s when he says several of his officers began calling their wives and crying. She is doing well at this hour. The Department of Children and Families will determine who gets custody of Shannon. Several family members tell News 13 that they would be happy to care for her.
Investigators say that Shannon’s mother, Chrystina Mercer, arranged to give Shannon to Baker on Friday. They believe the exchange took place at the mailbox at the end of Mercer’s drive on Brown Street in Chipley around 1:30 a.m. Saturday. Arraignments for Mercer and Baker will be held Thursday afternoon at the Washington County Courthouse.
Hours after the reported exchange at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Shannon was reported missing by her mother. Since that time rescue crews from across the Panhandle and nation searched desperately for baby Shannon. Sheriff Haddock says around 3,770 rescue man hours were logged. Law enforcement and search and rescue crews from from Washington, Liberty, Gulf and Bay Counties assisted. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Department of Corrections and FBI also gave aid in the case.
Sheriff Haddock says Mercer and Baker were persons of interest in the case from the beginning because they were two of the three people to last see the child since Friday. Shannon’s father and Baker’s step-brother, Rusty Dedrick, was also one of the last to see Shannon but authorities say he was not involved in the arrangement between Mercer and Baker. He also says Baker ridculed their investigation never knowing she was under the radar.
Susan Baker’s husband, James, was taken into custody Wednesday night, but he was released around 3:00 a.m. Thursday morning. He is not facing any charges at this time. Sheriff Haddock says they are still working with the State Attorney’s Office to determine if any charges will be filed. He did say that James Baker was not invovled in the agreement between Mercer and Susan Baker.
————————————-
For Immediate Release
November 5, 2009
Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock today announces the arrest of Susan Baker, 50, and Crystina Lynn Mercer, 25, both of Chipley, in the disappearance of seven-month-old Shannon Dedrick.
Wonder
4:45 am on November 6th, 2009
Baker, the child’s babysitter and half-sister to the child’s father, was charged with:
Neglect of a child with aggravated circumstances – 2nd degree felony
Interference with child custody – 3rd degree felony
Filing a false report regarding a missing child – 1st degree misdemeanor
Filing a false report of a crime – 1st degree misdemeanor
Contributing to the delinquency of a child – 1st degree misdemeanor
Mercer, the child’s mother, was charged with:
Interference with child custody – 3rd degree felony
Desertion of a child – 3rd degree felony
Filing a false report regarding a missing child – 1st degree misdemeanor
Filing a false report of a crime – 1st degree misdemeanor
Contributing to the delinquency of a child – 1st degree misdemeanor
Investigators learned that on the night of Oct. 30 Baker and Mercer agreed to allow Baker to take permanent custody of the baby. The two arranged to meet at 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 31 at Mercer’s residence for Mercer to give the child to Baker. Mercer later reported the child missing at 11:23 a.m.
Shannon Dedrick was safely located at 9:55 p.m. last night at Baker’s residence located at 3395 Orange Hill Road in Chipley after Baker gave investigators consent to search the residence. The baby was found in a 2-foot by 3-foot wooden box under a bed in Baker’s home.
The baby was taken to Northwest Florida Community Hospital where she was evaluated. The child is currently in the care of Florida Department of Children and Families.
Susan Baker’s husband, James Baker, was detained last night but has since been released.
Baker and Mercer were booked into the Washington County Jail.
http://www.panhandleparade.com/index.php/mbb/article/mother_and_aunt_charged_in_disappearance_of_baby_shannon/mbb7719718/
Wonder
4:52 am on November 6th, 2009
Grandmother Kandis Boyer and her two daughters left Texas at 6 a.m. Tuesday and drove all the way to Chipley.
photo’s from the press conference
http://www.newsherald.com/news/shannon-78823-alive-video.html
http://www.fosterfollynews.com/news/2009Nov5BabyShannonFoundUnderBed.php
(photo # 3) Kandis Boyer, Crystina’s mother, had made the trip from San Antonio, Texas to be with her daughter (photo #4). Boyer said Crystina had spent the day with her and her two sisters and were settling in for the night when Sheriff Haddock called and asked that Crystina be brought to his office.
Boyer said her concerns were initially centered on finding Shannon, but now that the baby is safe she wants to see that Crystina receives the help she needs. She described her daughter as “very confused”.
http://www.panhandleparade.com/index.php/mbb/article/news_conference_on_missing_baby_scheduled_for_100_a.m._thursday/mbb7719708/#ixzz0VyJkQOPp
On NG there was a caller, speaking how the baby’s eye don’t look happy. The doctor on the panel had to agree that the baby is malnourished her head is enlarged due to the lack of nutrition and it shows in her eyes.
They also say Dedrick and Mercer are not married and are no longer together.
The maternal grandmother of Shannon came to the news conference all the way from Texas. She tells News 13 she had suspicions that her daughter might be involved in the case some how.
Both sides of the family were preparing for the worst. But when they learned she was alive it was a range of emotions from cheers to tears. Sheriff Haddock brought the baby over to Shannon’s grandmother and aunts/uncle so they could hug and kiss her.
Nancy outright ask Boyer if Dedrick was the father and she said she did not know.

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