Baby rescued after his dad allegedly buried him alive in a dog crate
LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (TCN) — A 25-year-old father has been arrested and charged with attempted murder after allegedly burying his baby son alive in the woods.
According to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office, the search for 11-month-old Koah Sharp began on Nov. 9 after his father, Michael Comer, allegedly took him. Comer was arrested later that day on a burglary charge, but his son was not with him.
The sheriff’s department announced at a press conferenceon Nov. 10 that Sharp was allegedly found buried alive in a dog crate, wrapped in a towel. Sheriff Jay Koon said hearing Sharp’s cries was “the most joyful sound” and estimated that the infant had been in the crate and survived approximately 24 hours.
According to the sheriff’s office, Sharp was in the care of his paternal grandmother (identified as Patricia Comer by NBC News) as he often was. Michael Comer came to her home, and another caregiver was on the way when Patricia Comer left. Sharp was allegedly briefly in Michael Comer’s care, and both Michael Comer and Sharp were allegedly gone when the other caregiver arrived.
According to NBC News, Sharp’s mother has full custody of the infant but reportedly lets Patricia Comer babysit. There is reportedly no official custody agreement in place preventing Michael Comer from caring for the infant without supervision.
Koon said no Amber Alert was issued since a description of a car is required and Comer allegedly did not have a car. Investigators learned Comer was allegedly getting rides from people and obtained video of him at a location, allegedly without Sharp.
Comer was allegedly found in an outbuilding on a property and arrested on burglary and resisting arrest charges. He was taken into custody on the night of Nov. 9. The following day, a search party consisting of deputies and first responders searched a wooded area near Michael Comer’s father’s home.
Searchers found freshly disturbed dirt about 50 yards from the home at about 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 10, according to the sheriff. Once they started to dig, they began to hear Sharp crying. The infant was taken to the hospital for examination after he was rescued.
Koon said, “A lot of things were going in Koah’s favor, and the good Lord looked down on him the last 24 hours,” noting that cool weather and an air pocket in the towel he was allegedly wrapped him helped him to survive.
Patricia Comer said her son lived with her after being released from jail. He had been arrested for allegedly going to the home of one of Sharp’s mother’s exes while intoxicated. NBC News reports she said, “Just know that if I could have prevented this, I would have done everything in my power. … I had no idea this was going to happen.”
Law & Crime reportsMichael Comer was allegedly arrested three times in 2026 for assault and domestic violence and was on probation at the time of the alleged incident.
According to the sheriff’s department, Comer has been charged with attempted murder. Sharp has been released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
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