A South Carolina father is facing an attempted murder charge after his 11-month-old son was discovered alive inside a crate buried in a shallow grave.
Michael Comer, 25, was taken into custody Monday night. Arrest warrants list charges of attempted murder, unlawful conduct toward a child, custodial interference and burglary, according to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
His son, Koah Sharp, had reportedly spent about 24 hours buried underground.
The baby disappeared at approximately 11 a.m. Monday and was later located about 50 yards from the home of his paternal grandfather.
“Certainly, God is good. Just a few moments ago we found little Koah Sharp. Eleven months old, buried alive, clinging to life,” Sheriff Jay Koon said during a news conference.
Koon later confirmed that Koah was discharged from the hospital Tuesday night.
“He is with family members, and he is expected to make a full recovery,” the sheriff said.
The Daily Mail contacted the Eleventh Circuit Public Defender’s Office in Lexington County seeking an attorney who could speak on Comer’s behalf.
Michael Comer, 25, was arrested in Lexington County and charged with attempted murder after his infant son was found buried inside a crate
Koah Sharp was buried in a crate for roughly 24 hours before rescuers found him at about 11 a.m. Monday
Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said Koah left the hospital Tuesday night and is expected to recover fully
Police said Koah had been staying with his grandmother, Trish Comer, who briefly left the child in Michael Comer’s care while she ran an errand. Another caregiver was expected to arrive soon afterward.
“By the time the caregiver got there, Michael was gone and Koah was gone with him,” Koon said.
Authorities were called around noon Monday and began searching the grandfather’s home, located “up the street.”
Investigators found both doors open and the baby’s belongings inside, but there was “no sign of Michael or the baby.”
Police said Comer was not believed to have access to a car and was thought to travel by hitchhiking from “place to place.”
The search took a desperate turn Tuesday afternoon when officials spotted dirt and pine straw that appeared to have been recently disturbed. As they began digging, they heard the infant crying.
“As they probed it, laid it out and started digging, you could hear little Koah crying,” Koon said.
“So, as you imagine, the race was on, everybody’s getting down there trying to get him out.”
After spotting freshly disturbed dirt and pine straw Tuesday afternoon, officers began digging and soon heard the buried baby crying
Officers found the grandfather’s doors open and the baby’s belongings inside, but there was no sign of Comer or the child
Koah’s mother, Dezarae Sharp, said Comer had been permitted weekend visits after attending therapy and giving up alcohol
Rescuers pulled Koah from the crate, which had been covered with a towel. Koon said the covering may have trapped enough air to help the baby survive.
As officers continued looking for Comer, investigators found video showing him in the Batesburg-Leeville area without the baby.
Koah’s mother, Dezarae Sharp, wrote on Facebook that Comer had been allowed to see his son on weekends because “he’s been going to therapy and stopped drinking.”
Koah’s grandmother, Trish, said on Facebook that she left work early after becoming convinced something was wrong. She contacted police when she realized her son had taken the baby.
“I called [the police] as soon as I realized he took the baby,” she wrote. “I love that grandbaby with all my heart… I have not slept in over 24 hours… you don’t know what it’s like to lose a grandchild like that and have your son do something like this.”
Trish said she knew her son was struggling, but never imagined he would do anything like this. “I’m sorry that I did not see this beforehand,” she wrote.
“He loved that baby, he’d do anything for that baby. He took good care of that baby, if you could see him with that baby he was wonderful,” she added.
The Daily Mail has also contacted the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office for comment.