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Babysitter Investigated in Dedrick Disappearance
11/04/09 - 06:41 PM
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Allyson Walker - bio
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click for larger image Chipley, Fla:

Authorities are working to determine if the case of missing 7-month-old Shannon Dedrick in Washington County is related to a cold case.

News 13 has learned that Shannon’s reported babysitter was brought before a grand jury on charges relating to the disappearance of her step-son.

We now know that Shannon Dedrick’s reported babysitter, Susan Baker, is connected with a cold case in Beaufort, South Carolina.

In 1987 Susan’s 3 year old step-son, Paul disappeared. And in 2000 she and her husband… James were brought before a grand jury on charges relating to his disappearance but they were not indicted.  This case could provide fuel for the investigation.

Flash back to March of 1987.  James and Susan Baker phone in to Beaufort, South Carolina authorities that their son, Paul, was missing.  A search revealed nothing, and soon after they moved from South Carolina to Chipley. But authorities have kept their suspicions as they shared with us in this file interview from 2000 when the couple was arrested.

The warrant issued for Susan and Paul Baker by South Carolina authorities says that between August 1986 and March 1987 she did cause injury by means of physical battery. Injuries included visible welts on Paul’s body. Now another child in Susan Baker’s life is missing.

Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock said on Monday that “The baby cannot walk…it did not leave that residence by itself.”

7 month old Shannon Dedrick of Chipley was reported missing at 11:30 a.m. on Halloween.  Authorities say she went missing some time between 3:00 a-m and 11:00 a-m from her parents’ bedroom.  They also say they have a person of interest although they would not reveal the name of the possible suspect.

News 13 has learned that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is taking tire prints on a grey Toyota Sienna van at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office… but they will not tell us if it is related to the case.  Neighbors like Glenn Taylor say they saw a grey van around 9:30 the morning Shannon was reported missing:  “We left at about 9:15 and the driveway’s not too wide. And there was a gray van coming in which we know come over here and so we had to stop and let them get around. And then when we come back, that’s when all the officers was here.”

This afternoon sheriff’s deputies from Washington, Jackson, and Holmes counties blocked the entrance to Susan Baker’s driveway.  The Bakers’ residence is in a secluded area on Orange Hill road. And you can’t even see their home from there.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has now taken over the investigation into Shannon Dedrick’s disappearance. They are still considering this case a missing child investigation and not a homicide. If you have any information regarding Baby Shannon’s disappearance, call the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 638-6115.  They are now offering a $10,000 reward for information regarding Shannon’s disappearance.

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