Seven-month-old Shannon Dedrick has been found alive after seven days. The infant was located in a box under her babysitter's bed on Thursday.
Police found the infant at the home of her babysitter Susan Elizabeth Baker. She was under the woman's bed with items surrounding her.
The baby does not appear to have not been harmed. She was taken to hospital for examination.
The
Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports:
"It was very emotional for us, because once we got her to the hospital, we called our wives and every one of us was crying," Haddock said. "Grown men crying. It's just such a relief. We've had missing children cases in the past, but nothing like this."
Police have been combing the area since Saturday morning when Shannon was reported missing.
Shannon was last seen in her crib at about 3 a.m. Saturday morning. She is believed to have disappeared between that time and 8 a.m. Her parents did not call police until 11 a.m. Saturday morning.
There were allegations of abuse before the child's disappearance. Child welfare officials were looking into the matter when Shannon disappeared.
Baker is said to have written a letter to Governor Charlie Crist asking for help for the infant. She claimed the child was subject to cigarette smoke and drugs that were allegedly used by her parents. She also alleged James Russell Dedrick Jr was not the father of the child and that his name was only being used in order to obtain welfare benefits. Dedrick and Baker are related.
Baker was involved more than 20 years ago in another missing child case. Her stepson 3-year-old Paul Leonard Baker was reported missing by Baker on March 5, 1987. The child has never been found reports
AP.
Authorities plan to charge Baker, James Arthur Baker, and the child's mother, Chrystina Lynn Mercer.
