WASHINGTON COUNTY - A 7-month-old Chipley baby is safe tonight, putting an end to a five-day search.

Her mother and aunt, who police say planned the whole scheme, are behind bars, facing several felony and misdemeanor counts.

Channel Three's Laurie Bernstein joins us now with new details on the conditions the child lived in during the ordeal... Laurie?

It's been 24 hours since Washington County deputies discovered little Shannon Dedrick, hidden in a wooden box under a bed in her aunt's trailer.

She is said to be in good condition tonight, a miracle considering what she has been through.

"We usually do not get the happy endings we have that happened here today."

After a massive search-and-rescue operation where first responders logged over 3,700 man-hours, even grown men couldn't hide their emotions at the sight of Baby Shannon, alive and well.

"If you want to see a bunch of grown men cry, tonight, we rushed her to the hospital, calling wives, that we found this baby safe."

Safe, but in deplorable conditions, according to sheriff's deputies.

For 12 hours before she was discovered, Baby Shannon was stuffed inside this two-by-three wooden chest, without any bottle, only wrapped in a blanket.

Baby powder covered up the smell of an unchanged diaper.

"Oh my God...well, praise God that she's alive, I thought that first, but wow, how traumatic for that baby."

Neighbors say they aren't surprised by the arrest of Shannon's mom, Christina Mercer.

Deputies say early Saturday morning, Mercer met up with the baby's aunt, Susan Baker, and handed her daughter over near a cluster of mailboxes.

Just hours later, Mercer was going door-to-door to neighbors, telling them Shannon had disappeared.

"I couldn't see how she couldn't have no emotion, no tears, which means she knew what was going on for that baby."

Deputies still don't know how to explain the mother's actions.

They say the investigation was like pulling teeth, and the happy ending came out of good old-fashioned detective work.

As for Baby Shannon, it is now up to the Department of Children and Families as to who gets custody, and if she will stay with family members.

"We never gave up hope. Our role in this is now the best interest of the child."

Both women made their first court appearance Thursday afternoon.

Mercer is facing a $75,000 bond, while Baker is facing a $150,000 bond.Deputies Find Lost Chipley Baby