The entire world was watching this week as the search for 7-month old Shannon Dedrick of Chipley came to a successful conclusion Wednesday night. One group of people, watching more closely than most, is the members of the Beaufort County, South Carolina sheriff's office.

It appears investigators will be reopening the case that went cold 22-years-ago in Beaufort after 3-year old Paul Baker, was reported missing. Reports indicate back in 1987, his babysitter, who happens to be be his stepmother, Susan Baker, put him down for a nap, he was never seen again. Baker – is the same woman now charged in the baby Shannon case in Chipley.

Reporter Holly Bounds explains South Carolina investigators are hoping the case down here in Northwest Florida will provide new leads in the 22-year-old mystery in South Carolina.

The sight of seven-month-old Shannon Dedrick early Thursday morning was an overwhelming joy, combined with admitted feelings of shock from those who've come to know the woman who babysat the child.

"It was a surprise the child was found alive."

Though it was 22 years ago, Sheriff P. J. Tanner and Solicitor Duffie Stone certainly haven't forgotten the character of Susan Baker, the woman who was questioned in the disappearance of her stepson, 3-year old Paul Baker of Beaufort.

The Sheriff remembers her well, "She's a wicked person- that's about as nice as I could be."

But in 2000, a Beaufort grand jury decided there was not enough evidence for the case to be considered for trial.

"In 2000 it was not worth rolling the dice"

That’s a decision back then that could put them in a good spot now, being able to do more if new additional evidence is developed through what's happened in Chipley, Florida.

The Beaufort Solicitor, Duffie Stone, says if they would have tried Susan Stone 22 years ago and lost the case there would be nothing they could do now. But that’s not the case as the Beaufort Sheriff has one of his top investigators in Chipley right now looking at similarities in their case and the Shannon Dedrick case.

"I think it's important to realize that in South Carolina we don't have a statute of limitations. There's nothing that prevents us from taking charges if Detective Beard comes back with some information from Chipley that can help. To this date we still do not know what happened to the child, and that makes it very difficult to prosecute but we are free to prosecute if we receive credible information and credible evidence."

Susan Baker did spend 80 days in jail in 1989 for what was termed assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. This was for assaulting "another" of her children, this time a stepdaughter.

Sheriff Tanner says there is no new information regarding Paul Baker's disappearance at this time.