LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. – An 11-month-old boy who disappeared with his father was found buried alive in a dog crate in the woods after an estimated 24 hours underground, authorities say.
Searchers found Koah Sharpe on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 10, under about a foot of dirt near Batesburg-Leesville. He was alive and crying.
Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said the baby was found “clinging to life” and described his cries as “the most joyful sound you ever heard of a crying baby.”
How He Disappeared
According to the sheriff, Koah had been in the care of his paternal grandmother on Monday when his father, 25-year-old Michael Comer, came to the house. The grandmother left to run an errand and left Koah with Comer until another caregiver, who was on the way, arrived. By the time that caregiver got there, father and son were gone.
Deputies went to the nearby home of Comer’s father and found the doors open and baby belongings inside, but no sign of Comer or Koah.
No Amber Alert was issued. Koon said Comer didn’t have a car, so investigators had no vehicle description or license plate to put out.
The Search
Surveillance video later showed Comer at several locations around Batesburg-Leesville without the baby. Late Monday night, deputies found him hiding in an outbuilding and arrested him. Koah was not with him, and the sheriff said Comer didn’t have much to say about where the baby was.
On Tuesday, a search party of nearly 100 first responders combed the area. About 50 yards into the woods near the home of Comer’s father, they spotted freshly disturbed dirt.
When they started digging, they could hear Koah crying.
Found in a Dog Crate
Koah was inside a wire dog crate about 2 feet by 2 feet, wrapped in a towel. The sheriff said he believes the towel created an air pocket that helped the baby survive.
Koon said Koah was “screaming at the top of his lungs” when emergency crews took him to the hospital. Authorities have not released an update on his condition, but the sheriff said he hopes Koah will make a full recovery.
Investigators believe Koah was buried for about 24 hours, based on what they learned about his father’s movements.
What Happens Next
Comer has been arrested on burglary and resisting arrest charges. He has not yet been charged in connection with Koah’s disappearance, but the sheriff’s office says it is working with prosecutors on additional charges.
Comer remains in custody and has a bond hearing scheduled for Thursday. No motive has been released, though the sheriff mentioned past issues between Comer and Koah’s mother.
According to court records cited by WRDW, Comer was placed on probation just over a month ago after pleading guilty to aggravated breach of peace. He was also arrested earlier this year on domestic violence and weapons-related charges.
Comer’s mother, Patricia Comer, has called the allegations against her son “pure evil.”