Woman arrested for stowing baby under bed

November 06, 2009 11:15:41 AM

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A seven-month old baby missing in Florida for five days, was found unharmed Thursday, stashed in a box under the bed of her babysitter, who has been charged in her abduction, police said.

"This is a successful discovery," said Sheriff Bobby Haddock, noting that missing children cases that stretch on for several days rarely have such happy endings.

"Statistics reflect that this should not have ever happened, that we found this child alive -- especially after so many days," Haddock said at a press conference.

The infant, Shannon Dedrick, went missing early Saturday in rural Washington County, northern Florida.

After an exhaustive search, the child was located in the trailer home of her babysitter Susan Baker and now is being cared for by her grandmother.

Authorities said the child had been stashed under the caregiver's bed in a chest that had been obscured by clothing and various other items.

"She's in good condition," police said after the rescue, adding that the baby was not crying at the time she was recovered.

The sheriff said he did not know why the child was taken, but said charges could be filed against the infant's mother Chrystina Lynn Mercer.

Authorities are said to be investigating whether the baby had been abused before her abduction.

Police said the babysitter had an earlier brush with the law, in connection with the abduction of three-year old in nearby South Carolina.