• WEAR 3 NEWS TOP STORIES VIDEO

CHIPLEY, FL - The mother and the babysitter of a seven-month-old Chipley girl were charged today in her disappearance.

Shannon Dedrick was reported missing Saturday morning.

She was found at her babysitter's home in a box under a bed last night.

Channel Three's Laura Hussey joins us live from Chipley with the latest.

Sue, charges against the two women range from felony, desertion to interfering with custody.

Investigators say the disappearance that gripped this community for five days was really a scheme two women cooked up.

Tanya Wilts "After 48 hours you kinda lose hope. You continue to pray but you lose hope."

Tanya Wilts and Tina Blaylock live next door to 7-month-old Shannon Dedrick's family.

Saturday morning, Shannon's mother, Chrystina Mercer, showed up at their door saying her baby was missing.

Tanya Wilts "We're like what do you mean your baby's missing? Like she's talking as calm as I'm talking to you right now."

Tina Blaylock "I can't see how she couldn't have no emotion. No tears, so that tells me she knew what was going on with the baby."

Investigators say that was indeed the case.

They say Shannon's baby sitter, Susan Baker, asked Mercer to give her custody of the child, and Mercer secretly handed the baby over hours before reporting her missing.

Tina Blaylock "Why, why. You know it's crazy. Anybody would have taken that baby. Family, friends, or neighbors. We would have tried to help. You know? So why?"

There was no answer to that question when Mercer and Baker appeared in court Thursday.

Shannon Dedrick was found alive and seemingly well in a box under Susan Baker's bed five days after she disappeared.

Tanya "Oh my God. Well praise God she's alive. I thought that first, but wow, how traumatic for that baby."Chipley Baby Found: Missing Report Hoax

• IN FLORIDA NEWS

Joe Francis out sick for Panhandle court hearing
November 20, 2009 19:36 EST

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) -- The founder of "Girls Gone Wild" had a doctor's note and did not appear at a Panhandle court hearing.

The attorney for Joe Francis says his client was in a Mexico hospital, suffering from an acute ear infection, high fever and vertigo.

During Friday's hearing, U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak said the courtroom would be open to the public and media for the case involving four local women's civil suit filed against Francis and his company. Trial is scheduled for February.

Smoak also shot down the fifth motion by the plaintiff's for a summary judgment in the case. If he had granted the summary judgment, the only issue left for the jury would have been how much money to award in damages.

The girls said they were underage when they were filmed.

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Information from: The News Herald, http://www.newsherald.com

Thursday, November 5 2009, 08:23 PM EST

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