Baby Koah Sharpe, 11 Months, Survived About 24 Hours Buried in a Dog Crate in South Carolina Woods, and His Father Michael Comer Is in Custody

Searchers in Lexington County, South Carolina, heard a baby crying as they dug into freshly disturbed dirt in the woods on Tuesday afternoon. Under the pine straw was 11-month-old Koah Sharpe, alive inside a dog crate and wrapped in a towel. Sheriff Jay Koon said investigators believe the boy had been buried for about 24 hours, and the baby’s father, 25-year-old Michael Comer, is in custody.

Koah was taken to a hospital. Koon said he hopes the boy will make a full recovery, according to ABC News.

How the Search Began on Monday

The case started Monday, Nov. 9. According to WSMV, Comer arrived at a home where the baby was being cared for, and Koah was left in his care while another caregiver was on the way. When that caregiver got there, father and son were gone, and family members filed a missing persons report that afternoon.

“By the time the caregiver got there, Michael was gone and Koah was gone with him,” Koon told WIS. Deputies went to the nearby home of Comer’s father and found both doors open and Koah’s belongings inside, but no sign of either of them.

Comer was arrested late Monday night. The Post and Courier reported that deputies found him in an outbuilding at a house off Columbia Avenue in Batesburg. The baby was not with him.

Nearly 100 Searchers Find the Crate

On Tuesday, the search grew. Local, state and federal agencies joined it, including the county fire service, the State Law Enforcement Division, the FBI and ATF, the Post and Courier reported. ABC News put the search party at nearly 100 first responders.

About 50 yards into the woods near Comer’s father’s home, searchers noticed pine straw and what Koon called “freshly disturbed” dirt. As crews dug, they heard crying. The Post and Courier placed the discovery at about 1:45 p.m., in the 300 block of Parthenon Road, and said the child was about a foot underground.

Koon called the crying a joyful sound and said, “Certainly, God is good.”

What Kept Koah Alive

Koon said the crate and towel likely created an air pocket. The Post and Courier reported that the sheriff also said the cold overnight may have slowed the baby’s breathing, which may have bought time.

The sheriff described Koah as “clinging to life” when he was found, and emergency crews took him to the hospital right away. No later medical update from the hospital or the sheriff had been published by Wednesday morning.

Why No Amber Alert Went Out

No Amber Alert was issued in this case. Koon said one requires a vehicle description and a license plate, and Comer was not believed to have access to a vehicle.

The State Law Enforcement Division sets out South Carolina’s standards on its AMBER Alert information page. An alert is activated only when investigators believe a child was abducted and faces immediate risk of serious injury or death, other explanations for the disappearance have been reasonably ruled out, there is enough information to share with the public to help find the child, the suspect or a vehicle, and the child’s details are entered into the national crime database.

Charges Comer Faces So Far

Comer was arrested on burglary and resisting arrest charges, ABC News reported. Authorities are working with the local solicitor’s office on additional charges. Koon told the Post and Courier it is early in that process, and none of the charges announced so far relate to what happened to the baby.

Authorities have not said what motive may have been behind the disappearance. According to WSMV, court records show Comer was placed on probation just over a month ago after pleading guilty to aggravated breach of peace. The Post and Courier said Koon noted that deputies had previously responded to domestic violence incidents involving him.

Comer has not been convicted of any crime in this case. Further details are expected as prosecutors decide on the charges.

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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.

Image: Andrew Parlette from Elkridge,MD, US – CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons