Photo Credit: Washington County Sheriff's Office

Shannon Dedrick Email by Susan Baker and Press Conference

On November 4, 2009, at approximately 9:55 p.m., missing Florida infant, Shannon Dedrick was found. The child had been placed in a cedar chest and was hidden under Susan Baker’s bed. Susan Baker was Shannon Dedrick’s babysitter and had reported the family for child neglect and abuse several times. The first reports came in March and then Susan Baker sent an Email to Florida Governor Charlie Crist. Currently, Susan Baker and Shannon Dedrick’s mother, Crystina Mercer have been arrested and face charges. Susan Baker’s husband, James Baker had been taken into custody but has since been released.

Police have confirmed that Susan Baker is in fact the same Susan Baker who was arrested for abusing her 6 year old step-daughter and a suspect in the disappearance of her 3 year old step-son, Paul Baker.

Here is the Email sent by Susan Baker to Florida Governor Charlie Crist.

Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 2:53 PM
To: Governor Charlie Crist
Subject: Important

Mr Governor Crist,

I want to tell you something, there is four people living together. They
are not working nor are they doing any kind of community serves. But they are drawing food stamps. They take there food stamps and trade them for drugs. Tina Merter was pregnant when she meet James Russell Dedrick, jr dob:Oct 23, 1978, he is 31 yrs old and has never had a job.

So James R Dedrick, jr put his name on Tina Merters baby birth certificate. So now he can get a check, food stamps, medicare. Now there are Micheal, Erica, Tina Merter & James R Dedrick, jr living all together in a house on 537 5th St, Chipley Florida 32428. They are all drowing food stamps and not woking or doing community service. That Is so wrong in alot of wasys.

Tina Meter’s baby is being aboused. I have seen James R Dedrick, jr pick that baby up and shake her, just becouse the baby crys and that gets on his nerves. Micheal & Erica also have shoke that baby too. They smoke ciggerets and drugs with the baby in the same room. THAT CHILD NEEDS HELP & NO ONE IS HELPING HER.

Please Help this child she is mentaly challenged. It is not right that these

People are selling their food stamps for drugs. My husband works 58 hrs a week for us to live and it makes me very angry to see these people sitting on their back sides and draining the system that is put in place for the needy, Not the lazy. Please do something about this unjustice and Please, Please save that child.

Thank You For Your Time,
Susan Baker