Father charged with attempted murder after 11-month-old son found buried alive in dog crate

LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WIS/Gray News) - The father of a baby found buried alive this week has been charged with attempted murder.

According to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, 25-year-old Michael Comer’s charges also include unlawful conduct toward a child, custodial interference and burglary.

Lexington County authorities said the 11-month-old baby, Koah Sharp, miraculously survived after Comer buried him in a dog crate.

The boy’s father was arrested Monday night.

Koah was found alive Tuesday afternoon just over 24 hours after he was last seen with his father.

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 them.

Authorities arrested Comer after finding him in a shed in Batesburg.

It wasn’t until later that investigators were able to locate Koah at Comer’s father’s house. They noted finding a pine straw and “freshly disturbed dirt.” Once they started digging, they heard him 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.

The sheriff said Koah was treated at an area hospital.

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.