The father of an 11-month-old boy in the United States who survived being buried alive in a dog crate for about 24 hours has been charged with attempted murder, authorities said. The boy was released from hospital Tuesday night and is expected to make a full recovery, the local sheriff said.
The boy's father faces attempted murder and other charges after his son was found buried in a crate in woods. The father has been in custody since Monday, when the boy disappeared.
The boy survived because of cool temperatures and an air pocket created by a towel that was wrapped around the crate below ground, said the sheriff, who released additional details about the search by nearly 100 first responders.
After a full day of searching on Tuesday, authorities found freshly disturbed soil in the woods and heard cries from below ground, the sheriff said.
"As you can imagine, the race was on. Everyone was trying to get him out," the sheriff said.
The boy was soon freed and “clinging to life,” the sheriff told reporters. “He was screaming at the top of his lungs, which is a good thing in the baby world, I would guess,” the sheriff said.
The father was arrested while hiding in a building. It was not immediately known if he had a lawyer who could respond to the charges. A court hearing was planned for Thursday.
Authorities said the boy disappeared while in his father's care.
Surveillance video from several businesses showed the father without the baby on Monday afternoon, the sheriff said.
The child and his relatives are not being named to protect his identity.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The case highlights extreme child abuse and the resilience of a young infant, who survived a 24-hour burial.
- The rescue operation involved nearly 100 first responders and relied on cool temperatures and an air pocket from a towel to keep the baby alive.
- The father's prior domestic violence charges raise questions about custody and supervision arrangements.
Background
The baby went missing Monday after Michael Comer took him from the care of his mother, who had briefly left him alone with his son. Surveillance video showed Comer without the baby later that day. A search of about 100 police and fire personnel found freshly disturbed soil in woods near the grandfather's home. When rescuers dug, they heard crying and found the baby buried alive in a dog crate wrapped in a towel. Comer was arrested Monday evening on a burglary charge but without the baby; he was later charged with attempted murder.
Key Perspectives
Sheriff Jay Koon: Said the sound of crying was "the most joyful sound you ever heard" and described the baby as "clinging to life" but now expected to fully recover. He noted the rescue was a race once the cries were heard.
Great aunt Amber Hammond: "We're better now that we know that Koah is safe." She said the family had assumed Comer had given the baby to someone, not harmed him.
Patricia Comer (father's mother): "Honestly, I'm his mother, and I never expected this from him." She said her son had watched the baby before without problems.
What to Watch
- Comer's court hearing scheduled for Thursday, where additional charges may be filed.
- Any further investigation into custody arrangements and prior domestic violence incidents.
- Updates on Koah's ongoing health and recovery.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe father was charged with attempted murder after the baby survived an alleged burial in a crate.The Age - Latest News: “The father of an 11-month-old boy who survived being buried alive in a dog crate for about 24 hours has been charged with attempted murder in South Carolina, authorities say.”
- SupportedThe 11-month-old boy was released from hospital Tuesday night and was expected to make a full recovery, according to authorities.The Age - Latest News: “Koah Sharp, who was reported missing in Lexington County, just west of Columbia, was released from a hospital on Tuesday night (US time) following a rescue and was expected to make a “full recovery”, Sheriff Jay Koon said.”
- SupportedThe boy survived being buried in a dog crate for about 24 hours.The Age - Latest News: “The father of an 11-month-old boy who survived being buried alive in a dog crate for about 24 hours”
- SupportedThe father faces attempted murder and other charges.The Age - Latest News: “The boy’s 25-year-old father, Michael Comer, faces attempted murder and other charges.”
- SupportedThe boy survived because of cool temperatures and an air pocket created by a towel wrapped around the crate.The Age - Latest News: “The boy survived because of cool temperatures and an air pocket created by a towel that was wrapped around the crate below ground”
- SupportedNearly 100 first responders searched for the boy.The Age - Latest News: “the desperate search by nearly 100 first responders.”
- SupportedAfter a full day of searching on Tuesday, authorities found freshly disturbed soil in the woods and heard cries from below ground.The Age - Latest News: “After a full day of searching on Tuesday, authorities found freshly disturbed soil in the woods not far from the home of the boy’s grandfather – and heard cries from below ground, the sheriff said.”
- SupportedThe sheriff said, “As you can imagine, the race was on. Everyone was trying to get him out.”The Age - Latest News: ““As you can imagine, the race was on. Everyone was trying to get him out,” Koon said.”
- SupportedThe sheriff told reporters the boy was “clinging to life.”The Age - Latest News: “Koah was soon freed and “clinging to life”, the sheriff told reporters.”
- SupportedThe sheriff said, “He was screaming at the top of his lungs, which is a good thing in the baby world, I would guess.”The Age - Latest News: ““He was screaming at the top of his lungs, which is a good thing in the baby world, I would guess,” Koon said.”
- SupportedThe father was arrested while hiding in a building.The Age - Latest News: “Comer was arrested while hiding in a building in Batesburg-Leesville, about 50 kilometres west of Columbia.”
- Not in the sourcesThe child and his relatives are not named to protect his identity.The Age - Latest News: “Koah Sharp, who was reported missing in Lexington County”