Babysitter of Missing Chipley Girl May Be A Suspect
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Updated: 9:29 PM Nov 4, 2009
Babysitter of Missing Chipley Girl May Be A Suspect
There appears to be a visible shift in the investigation into the disappearance of 7-month-old Shannon Dedrick. NewsChannel 7 has learned her babysitter, Susan Baker, may be a suspect in the case.
Posted: 9:29 PM Nov 4, 2009
Reporter: Vanessa Nguyen
Email Address: vanessa.nguyen@wjhg.com
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There appears to be a visible shift in the investigation into the disappearance of 7-month-old Shannon Dedrick.
NewsChannel 7 has learned her babysitter, Susan Baker, may be a suspect in the case.
The babysitter allegedly wrote a letter to Governor Charlie Crist back in August, warning him Shannon could be in danger.
But Baker was also involved in the 1987 disappearance of a Beaufort, South Carolina boy.

Susan Baker came to the public's attention Wednesday morning after a newspaper published an e-mail she sent to Governor Charlie Crist.
The August e-mail warned Crist that the baby was in danger, and her parents, Christina Mercer and Rusty Dedrick, were the source of the trouble.
Baker told the paper about a number of issues, including the parent's alleged use of marijuana.
But now it appears Baker may, herself, be a suspect in Shannon Dedrick's disappearance.
NewsChannel 7 has learned that in 2000, Baker and her husband, James, were extradited from Chipley back to Beaufort, South Carolina for the 1987 disappearance of Paul Baker, James' 3-year-old son by his first wife.
Susan was the boy's babysitter.
She and James Baker had an affair, and married after he divorced Paul's mother.
At that time, Susan Baker told South Carolina authorities she put Paul down for a nap, only to come back and discover him missing.
The boy was never found.
Susan Baker was sentenced to 10 years in prison for abusing the couple's daughter.
She was later released with time served, and the couple returned to Chipley.
Wednesday, Washington County Sheriff's investigators said they were aware of Susan Baker's background.
But they would not confirm if she is their person of interest in Shannon Dedrick's disappearance.
Law enforcement vehicles blocked the driveway to the Baker's home on Orange Hill Road most of the day.
The Bakers did not answer any of our telephone calls.
As for the search for the missing 7-month old baby, there is nothing new.
Shannon Dedrick disappeared from her Brown Street home in Chipley on Saturday, October 31st.
She was last seen with her parents between 3am to 11am.
And with each day that passes, the chances of finding baby Shannon alive diminishes.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Washington County Sheriff's Office at (850)-638-6111.

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