Shannon Dedrick, a seven-month old infant was reported missing by her mother Chrystina Lynn Mercer at 11:23 a.m. on Saturday, October 31.

Investigators found Shannon in a box at her in a box at the home of Susan Baker, the child’s babysitter’s Chipley, Fla. yesterday

According to reports, the babysitter had stolen her and when the cops came to investigate, she hid Shannon behind some old, Christmas wrapping paper under a bed.

Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock choked up Thursday as he described how the baby was stashed in the box for 12 straight hours before investigators discovered her late Wednesday. They believe she had been in the box on and off for several days.

“She was way back under the bed,” he said. “But she was not crying.”

Investigators said the baby was surprisingly healthy.

“Once we got the hospital, five or six of us called our wives to let them know that we found the child and a lot grown men were shedding tears,” Haddock said.

It is not yet known why Baker was hiding the baby, She had previously written a letter to the Governor of Florida, claiming Shannon’s parents smoked pot and abused their baby. But investigations by Child Services found no abuse.

The Bakers have a suspicious past. Their own child went missing 22 years ago in a case that remains open to this day.

What do you think?

Shannon Dedrick, a seven-month old infant was reported missing by her mother Chrystina Lynn Mercer