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Person of Interest in Baby Disappearance
11/02/09 - 04:18 PM
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At a news conference Monday afternoon Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock said that they are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst in the search for a missing 7-month-old.

He released that they have a person of interest in the case of Shannon Lea Dedrick, but would not release the name of the potential suspect or any further details.

He said the last time Shannon was seen she was in her parents’ bedroom when they went to sleep Saturday.  The Washington County Sheriff’s Office says she went missing some time between 3:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.  Her parents reported her missing around 11:30 a.m.

Sheriff Haddock said they don’t know if Shannon is still alive.  “At this time we don’t have indicators that we have an abduction, but we can’t say that’s positive that its not. What we’re finding now that we have a person of suspicion that we’re looking at and that’s what has led this investigation so far,” he said.

He said they have teams of search canines trying to pick up a scent, but since Shannon could not walk, it makes it difficult to locate her.  “The baby cannot walk… it did not leave that residence by itself,” said Sheriff Haddock.

Immediately following the report, the Sheriff’s Office says 1300 calls to residents in the area were made.  On Sunday night, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement put out a Missing Child Alert. 

The Sheriff’s Office is searching the wooded area near Shannon’s home at 793C Brown Street in Chipley.  Many other agencies are assisiting in the search including Bay, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Liberty County Sheriff’s Offices as well as police departments for Graceville and Chipley. The Bay County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Posse was searching the area Monday afternoon.

Sheriff Haddocks said there were around 100 people looking for her Monday.

If you have any information, please contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 850-638-6111.