Researchers spent five days of dense vines and swamps looking for a missing child, only to find her still on a 2-foot by 3-foot cedar chest that had been pushed into the bed with his nanny.Clothes were packed around it to muffle the sound and baking powder placed inside mask the smell of dirty diapers.Authorities said the child's mother, Lynn Mercer Chrys Tina, gave the baby to nurse Susan Elizabeth Baker, early Saturday, then reported him missing about 10 hours later.
Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock choked Thursday described how 7-month-old Dedrick Shannon was kept in the box for 12 hours straight before investigators found Wednesday evening. They believe that she had been in the field and off for several days.
"She was back under the bed," he said. "But she was not crying."Baker had written a letter to Governor Charlie Crist's office in August, asking for help to the child and her father moved with an indication of both parents and drugged before her. Mercer asked last week whether he could obtain permanent custody, Haddock said. Authorities do not believe that Shannon's father, who is Baker's brother, was involved in the disappearance.
Haddock, said Shannon had apparently been fed and cared for while she was with Baker, who lived about 12 miles from Mercer. Baker said he was suspected of some days ago but never told them where was the baby even when interviewed in 12 hours.Shannon apparently healthy for the relief of researchers who spent the day after.
"When we reached the hospital, five or six of us called our wives to let them know that we have found the child and adult males were many tears," said Haddock.Mercer's mother, Candace Boyer, attended the press conference on Thursday and said afterward that she was there to show support for her daughter and granddaughter.
"I love my daughter very deeply," he said.Mercer was charged with interference with custody of children, neglect of a child and several other charges. The charges against Baker included the abandonment of a child and aggravated interference with parental responsibility.
Bail was set at $ 150,000 to Baker and $ 75,000 for Mercer. In separate hearings, the women drag their feet with chains on their legs and hands bound with plastic restraints.
The judge said Mercer could not have contact with his daughter, who was in government custody, regardless of whether the posts of bonds. Both women said they understood the charges against them and their hearings were scheduled for December 14.
Baker's husband, James Arthur Baker, was arrested Wednesday night but released. He is still under investigation, Haddock said.Shannon's parents told investigators that she last saw when I went to bed around 3 on Saturday and investigators believed he had disappeared some time between then and 8.
Around 100 police officers and others spent days scouring around the house the child in a makeshift community of remote dirt roads, tin-roofed shacks and old trailers. Researchers also dug through trash cans and Dumpsters.
"Statistically, it should not have ever happened, we found this child alive, especially after so many days," said Haddock, who cradled her in his arms as he spoke with Shannon reporters on Thursday. "Time was against us."
According to court documents, child welfare officials began investigating allegations of abuse Shannon was less than two weeks after she was born.Researchers often went to the child's home from August to late September and reported that both parents marijuana and maintaining a disorderly home. But Shannon said appeared to be cared for, and in September, a doctor determined he was healthy.
Susan Baker was involved in another case of missing children in South Carolina more than two decades ago. He told authorities his stepson, 3-year-old Paul Leonard Baker, disappeared from the family, Beaufort, SC, home on 5 March 1987, while hairy.
A massive search turned up nothing. She and her husband, James Baker, was extradited to South Carolina in 2000 and charged with assault and battery in the disappearance of Paul, according to police reports from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. But never a grand jury indicted them and the child was never found.
Susan Baker was in prison after authorities investigating the disappearance of her stepson found a 6-year-old Baker home was badly beaten. Susan Baker was sentenced to 10 years in prison but the sentence was suspended after 80 days. Authorities could not say how it related to the girl.
Florida officials refused to answer questions on Thursday about the case in South Carolina. That only said that state investigators were in Chipley and spoke with Baker.
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