Script from archive story June 8, 2000

The video above is a News 13 file package on the arrest of Susan and James Baker reported by Chris Cato.

The past may have caught up as caught up with a Washington County couple.

James Arthur Baker and Susan Elizabeth Baker were arrested Tuesday in connection with the disappearance of their 3-year old son.  They are suspected of murdering him.

As Chris Cato reports, this is a case 13 years in the making.

Paul Leonard Baker has been missing for over 13 years.  His picture is still posted on the Center for Missing Children’s website.  But criminal investigators believe two people know what happened to Paul.

The story begins in Beaufort, South Carolina in March of 1987.  41-year old James Arthur Baker and his wife Susan, also 41, reported their 3-year old son missing.  A massive search for the boy turned up nothing.

Meanwhile, James and Susan Baker moved out of South Carolina, and into rural Washington County, Florida.  Authorities were suspicious.

“I think it might be reasonable to think these people were always suspects.”

In 1999 Washington County Sheriff’s investigators began watching the Baker property closely.  South Carolina authorities had received a tip that the Bakers had killed their son, and dumped the body.

After a long investigation, James and Susan baker were arrested on June 6th and charged with high and aggravated assault and battery.

“I do think the possibility of additional & more serious charges are there, surely.”

The Bakers have been taken back to South Carolina for questioning, and the case is being treated as a homicide.

Chris Cato - News 13.

James Baker had served in the Marine Corps at Camp Le June before moving to Washington County.  The Navy’s Criminal Investigative Service, the Beaufort County, South Carolina Sheriff’s Office and the state’s law enforcement division are handling the investigation.

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Update: Babysitter Under Investigation in Missing Infant Case
11/04/09 - 12:45 PM
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News 13 has learned that the step-son of Susan Baker, 50, the reported babysitter for missing Shannon Dedrick, was reported missing more than 20 years ago.

Paul Baker is still listed on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children website.  He was 3 years old when he disappeared on March 5, 1987.  The family was living in Beaufort County, South Carolina at the time.

Years later, Susan and her husband James, 50, moved to Washington County.  The couple was arrested there in June of 2000 in connection with Paul’s disappearance.

Criminal investigators in South Carolina remained suspicious about the Bakers and alerted Washington County authorities.  Washington County Officers began paying close attention to their residence in 1999.

South Carolina authorities say they received a tip that the Bakers killed their son and dumped the body.  They were arrested and brought to a grand jury on a charge of high and aggravated assault and battery and taken to South Carolina for questioning.  The case is still open and is being treated as a homicide.  Court records show that the grand jury did not indict the couple and the prosecution dropped the charges.

Meanwhile, 7-month-old Shannon Dedrick is still missing.  She was reported missing by her parents at 11:30 a.m. on Halloween.  Authorities say she was last seen in her parents’ bedroom, and she went missing between 3:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Saturday.

After Shannon was reported missing, law enforcement contacted nearly 1300 residents living in the area.  They also began a search near Shannon’s home.  They continue to search Wednesday with the help of law enforcement across the Panhandle and country as well as search and rescue volunteers both on the ground and in the air. 

Sunday evening the Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued a Missing Child Alert for Shannon.

Monday, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported that they had a person of interest in the case.  The name of the possible suspect is although not being released at this time.  They also reported that the parents of Shannon do not have a criminal background.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will not confirm whether or not they are looking into the Bakers as possible suspects in Shannon’s disappearance.

News 13 has learned that Beaufort County is sending an investigator to assist in the case of missing baby Shannon.  They would not comment any further but did say it would be up to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to determine if there are any connections between the disappearance of Paul and Shannon.  We also know that officers are now surrounding the home of the Bakers but they are not commenting on why.

Click here for the cold case file information from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.