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November 3rd at 5:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Shannon's maternal relatives are asking that the public direct their attention to helping locate the 7-month-old infant rather than making unkind comments about the baby and her parents.

 

In a telephone interview this afternoon they said they will be more than willing to grant interviews when the disappearance has been resolved, but they aren't willing to do so until that time.

 

They acknowledged they have been contacted by the 'Nancy Grace Show' seeking comments on the investigation, but don't feel it is appropriate at this time for them to comment.

 

 

Members of Christina Mercer's family are expected in Chipley later tonight and will be meeting with officials from the Sheriff's Department

 

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Nov. 3, 2009

 

Press Release From Washington County Sheriff's Office

 

The ground search effort for missing Shannon Lea Dedrick resumed again at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 3rd, with over 50 search and rescue personnel from Liberty, Gulf and Bay County. 

 

Search efforts included 8 K-9 teams on the ground and helicopter assistance from both Jackson and Calhoun County.  Local residents are urged to remember that helicopters will be in the area late into the evening as part of the continued search effort.  

 

Sheriff’s Offices from several surrounding counties, Team ADAM, an extension of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the FBI are actively assisting with the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of baby Shannon. 

 

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the media for their extraordinary efforts in the dissemination of this information which has led to 100’s of tips nationwide” states Sheriff Haddock.  “We are so grateful for the public’s response to help find baby Shannon and the resources from both neighboring agencies and volunteers in this massive search effort.”

 

While there have been no significant developments in the case, investigators are working each and every tip that comes in and would ask the community to continue to call 850.638.6111 with any information that may be relevant to this case.

 

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by Kathy Foster

 

Air and ground searches are continuing as law enforcement personnel expand their search for the missing 7-month-old Shannon Dedrick.

 

Mounted patrols, foot patrols and a helicopter could be seen Tuesday morning searching areas expanding from the intial search being made around the 793C Brown Street address in Chipley where the young white female infant disappeared from the home where her parents were living last Saturday.

 

According to the Washington County Sheriff's Department they are still in the search & rescue mode.

 

 

(Pictured above at Nov. 2 press conference l-r)  Jake Etheridge, FDLE; Bobby Haddock, Sheriff; and Tommy Ford, FDLE

 

In a 3 p.m. press conference Monday Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock announced the  search and rescue mission directed toward locating 7-month-old Shannon Lea Dedrick (left) has turned up no strong clues, but he added that close to 100 people are still scouring the area around her home looking for her.

 

 

A large number of vehicles are located in a staging area at the east end of South Boulevard where equipment and manpower could be seen coming and going throughout the day on Monday.

 

 

 

According to Haddock,  the infant was discovered missing from the family residence (shown at the left) about 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31st.  He said a short time later the Washington County Sheriff's Office received a call concerning the missing infant. 

 

At Monday's press conference Haddock said once his office became involved Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Bay County Sheriff's Department were called in for assistance.

 

K-9 units initially searched a 500-600 yard area around the residence; however, Haddock said that perimeter has widened each hour as no trace of the baby has been found.

 

(The photo at the right shows the lane leading back to the residence occupied by Shannon's parents Christina Mercer and Rusty Dedrick.)

 

According to Haddock, the child was in the bedroom with her parents at the time of her disappearance which is projected to have taken place between 3:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 31st.

 

Haddock said on Monday that a Team ADAM had flown in to join the search effort.

 

The Sheriff permitted some questions at Monday's press conference, but indicated that he would not answer any questions directed about any possible family involvement in the disappearance and refused to go into specifics about the investigation. 

 

Haddock did say his office has no indication of an abduction in the case.

 

When asked if polygraph tests had been administered to anyone involved in the case, Haddock wouldn't answer.

 

Asked about Shannon's parents having any problems with law enforcement, Haddock said neither had records.

 

Asked why the child's parents were not present at Monday's press conference,  Haddock said they were upset and are presently counting on the Sheriff's Department to talk on behalf of the family.

 

The investigation into the disappearance of Shannon Dedrick has reached all the way to Texas where Shannon's maternal grandmother received a visit from law enforcement officers wanting to know if she had seen the baby.

 

 

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November 2, 2009 at 12:30 p.m.

 

News Release Issued by Washington County  Sheriff's Department

 

On Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 11:23 a.m. the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a call in reference to a missing child.  Shannon Lea Dedrick, 7 month old white female, 11 lbs in weight, 24 inches in height was reported missing by her parents from their home at 793C Brown Street in Chipley.  Shannon was believed to have gone missing between 3:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.  Deputies responded to the home and within minutes both FDLE and Bay County Sheriff’s Office were brought in to assist.  A Child is Missing was alerted and initiated approximately 1300 calls to residents in the area and the area of notification has been expanded as needed.

 

Approximately 75 search and rescue personnel from Liberty, Gulf and Bay County as well as K-9 teams and volunteers from local fire departments have worked an extensive ground search effort which was activated non-stop from the time of the initial call through Sunday at approximately 1:30 a.m.  It resumed again Sunday at 7:00 a.m. and is ongoing at this time.  The arm to arm ground search has covered approximately a ½ mile radius around the home and deputies are expanding that area each hour.  Investigators with Washington County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of investigators with FDLE, Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Chipley Police Department, Holmes County Sheriff’s Office and Graceville Police Department are currently working an investigation into any and all leads at this time. 

 

“We would like to thank those who have contacted law enforcement officers with tips in reference to baby Shannon” states Sheriff Haddock.  “All tips are being thoroughly investigated and I would ask that you continue to contact our office at 638.6111 if you have any information concerning this missing child.” 

 

 

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November 2, 2009

 

Heard from Shannon's aunt in Texas this morning and she would like area residents to know that Shannon's mother, Christina, suffers from a growth development problem that may have been passed down to her daughter.  The problem includes a somewhat larger than average head, which her aunt says should make it easier to spot Shannon..

 

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by Kathy Foster

 

            A Florida MISSING CHILD Alert has been issued for Shannon Lea Dedrick, a white female, 7 months old, 2 feet tall, 11 pounds, brown hair, and blue eyes.  She was last seen at her residence in Chipley on 10/31/09.   If you have any information on the whereabouts of this child please contact the Washington County Sheriff's Office at 850-638-6111 or 911.

 

 

 

 

The Washington County Sheriff's Department is continuing a search for blonde, blue eyed, seven month old Shannon Dedrick of 263 Brown Street in Chipley.  (Shown at left)

 

The photo at the left was submitted by Lynda Padgett, aunt of the missing child. Padgett lives in Texas and reports that Shannon's mother first moved to the Ebro area to live with her grandfather and later moved to the Chipley area with her then boyfriend.

 

According to Sheriff Bobby Haddock,  (shown at the right with Tommy Ford of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), his department is following up every lead in their search for the child that has been missing since around noon on Saturday. 

 

In a press conference Sunday Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock that nothing at the present makes them think the baby was abducted, but added that the infant "didn’t crawl or walk away."

 

Haddock said the call reporting the missing child was received by his department around 11:50 a.m. Oct. 31st and the FDLE, along with Search & Rescue from Jackson, Liberty, Bay and Calhoun counties have been at the scene. The Sheriff said the child was in the home of her parents when she went missing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haddock reported Sunday afternoon that approximately 75 people are searching the wooded and swampy terrain area surrounding the home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The primary area being searched is north of South Boulevard and on the East side of Brown Street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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