11-Month-Old Boy Found Alive After 24 Hours Buried in Dog Crate
Eleven-month-old Koah Sharp was rescued alive in South Carolina after spending about 24 hours buried underground inside a dog crate in woodland on a neighbour’s property. Search teams found freshly disturbed soil and heard the baby crying beneath it on Tuesday, following a day-long operation involving dozens of emergency workers. Koah was covered in dirt and initially clinging to life, but soon sat up after being lifted onto a truck. He was taken to hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said cool temperatures and an air pocket formed by a towel wrapped around the crate probably helped keep the child alive. Authorities say Koah disappeared after his father, 25-year-old Michael Comer, was left caring for him while Koah’s grandmother ran an errand. Comer allegedly left with the baby and was later arrested hiding in a building in Batesburg-Leesville. He has been charged with attempted murder and remained in custody; a court hearing was scheduled for Thursday.
Investigators have not disclosed a possible motive. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Comer without the baby on Monday afternoon, while relatives said he had previously talked about taking Koah to New York. Koah’s grandfather, John Comer, said he had allowed his son and grandson to stay with him shortly before the disappearance and believed that decision may have helped authorities locate the child. The case follows Michael Comer’s October probation sentence after he pleaded guilty to domestic violence and aggravated breach-of-the-peace charges.
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