Missing 11-month-old found, survived 24 hours after father buried him alive in a dog crate, sheriff says

LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WIS/Gray News) — Authorities in South Carolina said an 11-month-old baby miraculously survived after they believe his father buried him alive in a dog crate.

Koah Sharpe was found alive Tuesday afternoon just over 24 hours after he was last seen with his father, 25-year-old Michael Comer.

Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said Koah was found buried in a dog crate wrapped in a towel.

“By the grace of God, [it] probably provided enough air for him to survive an estimated 24 hours under that dirt,” Koon said.

The sheriff said Comer’s mother was caring for the child when Comer arrived at the home on Monday. She then left Koah in Comer’s care while another caregiver was on the way.

“By the time the caregiver got there, Michael was gone and Koah was gone with him,” Koon said.

Other members of Koah’s family filed a missing persons report Monday afternoon. Koon said authorities went to the nearby home of Comer’s father, where they found both doors open and Koah’s belongings, but no sign of either Comer or Koah.

Authorities also believe Comer was in multiple locations across Lexington County on Monday, but they said that he does not have access to a vehicle. That is why an Amber Alert was never issued.

“To be able to issue an Amber Alert, you have to have a known description of a car and a license plate to put that out,” Koon explained Tuesday.

The sheriff said it’s believed Comer asked for rides to get from place to place. Video footage also pointed to Comer being in the Batesburg-Leesville area, but with no baby.

Authorities arrested Comer Monday night on a burglary charge after finding him in a shed in Batesburg. Koah, however, was not with him.

The search for the 11-month-old extended into Tuesday, with local, state and federal agencies joining the search.

Koon said it wasn’t until authorities looked near Comer’s father’s house that they found pine straw and “freshly disturbed dirt.” Once they started digging, they heard Koah crying.

“So, as you imagine, the race was on,” Koon said. “Everybody’s getting down there trying to get him out.”

Koon said it’s believed that Koah was buried for around 24 hours.

“It [the dog crate] was buried, and it was wrapped with a towel. So probably created an air pocket, if you can imagine,” Koon said.

The sheriff said Koah is being treated at a hospital. Comer, meanwhile, remains in custody as of Tuesday afternoon.

Comer’s arrest comes just over a month after he was placed on probation following a guilty plea for aggravated breach of peace, according to public court and state records.

Court records also show Comer had previous arrests earlier this year for domestic violence, as well as a weapons-related charge.