South Carolina Father Charged With Attempted Murder After 11-Month-Old Son Is Found Buried Alive

A 25-year-old man in South Carolina has been charged with attempted murder after his 11-month-old son was allegedly buried alive inside a dog crate and left underground for approximately 24 hours.

Michael Comer was arrested on Monday, November 9, after his son, Koah Sharp, disappeared while in his care in Lexington County, according to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.

Authorities said the infant had initially been left with Comer’s mother, who was caring for him before leaving to run an errand. Comer was subsequently entrusted with the child while another caregiver was on the way.

However, when the next caregiver arrived, both Comer and the baby were missing.

A search was launched after relatives reported the disappearance, with more than 100 law enforcement officers and emergency personnel from several agencies joining the operation.

Investigators later discovered freshly disturbed soil in a wooded area near the home of Comer’s father in Batesburg-Leesville.

As rescuers began digging, they heard a baby crying beneath the ground. The infant was eventually discovered inside a dog crate wrapped in a towel and buried in a shallow hole.

Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said the child had likely survived because the towel created an air pocket inside the crate, while the cool temperatures may also have helped him remain alive.

The sheriff described the discovery as extraordinary, saying the infant was still crying when rescuers reached him.

Koah was immediately taken to hospital for medical attention and was released on Tuesday night. Authorities said he is now with relatives and is expected to make a full recovery.

Comer faces charges of attempted murder, unlawful conduct toward a child, custodial interference and burglary, according to arrest warrants.

He had been taken into custody on Monday night after investigators found him hiding in an outbuilding in Batesburg-Leesville. Authorities said he was not with the infant when he was arrested.

The investigation has also drawn attention to the family’s previous domestic difficulties. Sheriff Koon said there had been earlier domestic violence-related incidents involving the child’s parents.

Koah grand aunt

Court records show Comer was placed on probation in October after pleading guilty to domestic violence-related offences arising from an earlier incident.

The motive behind the alleged burial has not been established publicly, and authorities have not disclosed a full explanation of what led to the incident.

The case has attracted widespread attention in the United States because of the infant’s survival after spending an estimated 24 hours underground.

Comer remains in custody as the criminal proceedings continue.