Shannon Dedrick case: Police say mother gave girl to babysitter, both women charged

Babysitter/step-aunt, Susan Baker, left, and Shannon Dedrick's mother, Chrystina Mercer, right. (Booking Photos)

On Wednesday night, missing 7-month-old Shannon Dedrick was found hidden in a box under her babysitter’s bed.

According to authorities, babysitter/step-aunt, Susan Baker, 50, wanted permanent custody of the little girl, so Shannon’s mother, Crystina Lynn Mercer, 25, gave her the child.

Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock said it did not appear that Mercer knew Shannon had been placed in the box.

Shannon Dedrick (Family Photo)

Haddock did say, however, that both women "conspired in this together to hand over the child at 1:30 that morning [Oct. 31] at the mailbox at the end of their drive."

After the Florida girl disappeared, investigators became suspicious of Baker upon learning her 3-year-old son, Paul, had disappeared over twenty years ago in South Carolina. That case has never been solved and in 2000, after moving to Florida, Baker and her husband, James, were extradited to South Carolina and arrested in connection with the boy's disappearance.

To read about the case, click here.

WLTX reports that Shannon appeared to be healthy when found, and noted that the box she was housed in “contained a blanket and baking soda or powder to mask the smell of her dirty diapers should dogs or searchers come near.”

To read a letter Baker wrote to Florida Gov. Charlie Crist about Shannon's safety, click here.

Baker has been charged with aggravated child neglect, with bail set at $150,000, while Mercer was charged with deserting a child and her bail was $75,000. Both women have also been charged with filing a false missing child report, filing a false report of a crime, interference with child custody, and contributing to the dependency [not delinquency] of a child, according to WLTX.

Baker's husband was initially arrested, but was released early Thursday. Authorities are determining whether he will face charges regarding the matter.

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