Sheriff: Mother, aunt conspired to remove Chipley baby from home

CHIPLEY, Fla. — Hours after a missing Chipley baby was located underneath a bed and inside a small cedar chest in the home of her aunt, authorities and family members are still trying to figure out why the baby’s mother and aunt would conspire to hide the child, then concoct a fake story about her disappearance.

Tired but relieved, Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock praised the effort of law enforcement personnel, whose investigation led to the location of 7-month-old Shannon Lea Dedrick, found late Wednesday night in the home of Susan Baker, an aunt who also served as the baby sitter.

Baker and the baby’s mother, Crystina Lynn Mercer, have been charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors. Baker’s charges include neglect of a child with aggravating circumstances, a second degree felony. They are expected to be arraigned today in Washington County, Fla.

Mercer reported baby Shannon missing at 11:23 a.m. Saturday, claiming the baby had been in the parents’ bedroom and was missing when they woke up.

Haddock, however, said the investigation has revealed that Mercer and Baker met early Friday and conspired to remove the baby from the home. The exchange apparently occurred around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, 10 hours before Mercer reported her daughter missing. Haddock said he is not sure of baby Shannon’s exact location at all times between the reported disappearance and Wednesday night, but that Baker apparently admitted hiding the baby in a 2x3 cedar chest when she believed authorities were coming to search the home.

“The box was a hiding mechanism,” Haddock said.

Haddock said baby Shannon was believed to have been inside the chest for 12 hours when she was found by investigators. Haddock said she appeared unharmed. She was taken to a local hospital for observation and is now in custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families.

“There were a lot of grown men crying,” Haddock said.

Baby Shannon’s grandmother, Kandis Boyer, said she was overwhelmed with emotion when learning that the infant had been found alive and safe.

“Words can’t describe it. We’re so grateful to everyone who joined in to help find my granddaughter,” said Boyer, who lives near San Antonio, Texas.

Boyer, Mercer’s mother, declined to speculate on a motive. When asked if she believed Mercer thought she was acting in baby Shannon’s best interest, Boyer declined to comment.

“We love Crystina, we’re behind her and we’re here to support her,” Boyer told the Dothan Eagle.

Haddock said Baker placed baking powder inside the cedar chest to mask the smell of Baby Shannon’s soiled diaper. Haddock said Baker and her husband, James, did not give permission to search their residence until Wednesday at 8 p.m. When baby Shannon was found, Baker said ‘She’s all right. She’s all right.’ according to Haddock.

Haddock said Baker was a person of interest in the case almost immediately because she was the last person to have baby Shannon before taking her back to the residence on Brown Street on Friday afternoon. Authorities did a background check on Baker and found a 2000 arrest for aggravated assault in relation to a 1987 incident in which her 3-year-old stepson, Paul Baker, went missing from their South Carolina residence. Paul Baker has not been found. Another child in the home was then taken from the household after social workers found bruises and broken bones.

Haddock said an investigator from South Carolina is in Chipley to follow up on any leads that may be generated in the 22-year-old case. The initial investigation was conducted by Beaufort, S.C., authorities along with the Naval Criminal Investigation Service.

Ed Buice, NCIS public affairs officer, said the agencies may take a fresh look at the case.

“Obviously recent events could potentially prompt another look at the earlier case, depending on what the current investigation reveals, but it would be premature to speculate further. We’ve not had time to discuss the new developments with all the agencies involved in the two investigations. We’ll coordinate with them to see what’s what before offering any detailed comments publicly,” Buice said in response to an e-mail from the Dothan Eagle.

Haddock said authorities are still trying to determine if Baker’s husband will face charges. Baby Shannon’s father, James “Rusty” Dedrick, will not face charges.