Evidence in missing baby case quickly led to aunt, mother

Although it took four days for authorities to bring charges against two Chipley, Fla., women in connection with the disappearance of a 7-month-old girl, an officer was in the home where the girl was eventually found just a few hours after the baby was reported missing.

Deputies from the Washington County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office responded to the home of Crystina Mercer minutes after she called 911, telling a dispatcher that she woke up to find her daughter, Shannon Lea Dedrick, missing from the crib beside her bed.

According to public records released by the sheriff’s office, deputies were suspicious of Mercer and the baby’s aunt, Susan Baker, almost immediately.

“Upon my arrival Ms. Mercer was sitting on a rock outside the residence smoking a cigarette. She was not in an emotional state and simply stated to me she could not find her baby,” officer John Douglas Standland wrote in his initial incident report after driving to the scene of the disappearance on Saturday, Oct. 31, on Brown Street in Chipley.

A neighbor told Standland that a silver van belonging to Baker was at the Brown Street residence the previous night. Standland then went to the Baker residence on Orange Hill Road and told Baker that the baby had been reported missing.

“Ms. Baker immediately became upset and began crying when I advised her Shannon was missing,” Standland wrote.

Standland then received permission from the Bakers to conduct a “cursory search” of the residence, but found nothing. The baby was located in the residence on the evening of Nov. 3 inside a cedar chest underneath a bed.

“Before leaving the residence, Ms. Baker began crying again and stated to me that Ms. Mercer had told her several times she wanted to kill Shannon because she did not want her but that she wanted to have another baby and did not want Shannon there,” Standland wrote.

Baker and Mercer were arrested Nov. 3 and have been charged with several felonies and misdemeanors in connection with the case. Sheriff Bobby Haddock said he believes Mercer and Baker concocted a plan the day before Shannon was reported missing in which Mercer would hand Shannon over to Baker, then later call 911 and report her missing. Haddock has declined to speculate on a motive.

A recording of the 911 call shows Mercer speaking to dispatchers in an unemotional, matter-of-fact tone.

“Yes, my little girl ... I woke up this morning and my 6-month-old daughter is .. ugh .. my 7-month-old daughter is missing. My front door, it looks like it’s been jimmied open today,” Mercer said while speaking to the 911 dispatcher.

Mercer and Baker have been arraigned. A first court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 14 in Washington County.