Published: November 05, 2009 11:49 am      

Officials: Mother gave missing Florida infant to sitter

CHIPLEY, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say the mother of a missing Florida 7-month-old secretly turned her over to her baby sitter in the middle of the night.

Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock said Thursday that infant Shannon Dedrick was found alive in a box under baby sitter Susan Elizabeth Baker’s bed. Investigators have been searching for her since her parents reported her missing Saturday.

Haddock says Baker asked mom Chrystina Lynn Mercer on Friday if she could have custody of Shannon. He says Mercer brought the infant to Baker’s house early Saturday, about 10 hours before she was reported missing.

Haddock says Mercer and Baker each face several charges.