CHIPLEY, Fla. — Investigators spent five days searching dense vines and marshes for a missing infant, only to find her lying quietly in a 2-by-3-foot cedar box that had been shoved under her babysitter’s bed.
Clothing was packed around it to muffle any sounds and baking powder placed inside to mask the stench of dirty diapers.
Authorities said the baby’s mother, Chrystina Lynn Mercer, gave the infant to babysitter Susan Elizabeth Baker early Saturday, then reported her missing about 10 hours later.
Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock choked up Thursday as he described how 7-month-old Shannon Dedrick was stashed in the box for 12 straight hours before investigators discovered her late Wednesday. They believe she had been in the box on and off for several days.
“She was way back under the bed,” he said. “But she was not crying.”
Baker had written a letter to Gov. Charlie Crist’s office in August, pleading for help for the baby and claiming her father shook her and both parents did drugs in front of her. She asked Mercer a week ago if she could have permanent custody, Haddock said. Officials do not believe Shannon’s father, who is Baker’s stepbrother, was involved in the disappearance.
Haddock said Shannon apparently had been fed and cared for while she was with Baker, who lived 12 miles from Mercer. He said Baker became a suspect several days ago but never told them where the baby was, even as they interviewed her for 12 hours.
Shannon appeared healthy, much to the relief of investigators.
Mercer was charged with interference of child custody, desertion of a child and several other counts. Charges against Baker included neglect of a child with aggravated circumstances and interference of child custody.
