An 11-month-old South Carolina boy is “clinging to life” after authorities found him buried alive inside a dog crate, more than 24 hours after he was allegedly taken by his father.
Koah Sharpe was discovered Tuesday locked inside a crate wrapped in a towel and placed in a shallow, dirt-covered hole, WIS 10 reported, citing Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon. The child had last been seen with his 25-year-old father, Michael Comer.
“By the grace of God, [the crate] probably provided enough air for him to survive our estimation of the last 24 hours under that dirt,” Koon told reporters Tuesday.
Koah’s grandmother had been caring for him before briefly placing him in Comer’s care that morning while another caregiver was on the way.
“By the time the caregiver got there, Michael was gone and Koah was gone with him,” the sheriff said.
Family members reported Koah missing Monday afternoon. However, authorities did not issue an Amber Alert because Comer reportedly had no access to a vehicle, according to the sheriff.
“To be able to issue an Amber Alert, you have to have a known description of a car and a license plate to put that out,” Koon explained.
The Justice Department says law enforcement agencies generally need sufficient identifying information about the child, suspected abductor and circumstances of the disappearance — which can include a vehicle description and license plate number — before an Amber Alert can be issued.
More than 100 local, state and federal first responders joined the search for the missing infant, Koon said.
Investigators found Koah’s belongings at Comer’s home Monday afternoon. Both doors were open, but neither the father nor the child was there.
Authorities believe Comer traveled to several places across the county that day, relying on people to give him rides or arranging transportation from one location to another, the sheriff said.
Later Monday night, officers located Comer hiding in a shed in Batesburg. He was arrested on burglary and resisting-arrest charges.
“Of course, he didn’t have much to say about the whereabouts of the baby at that time,” Koon said.
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During the search the following day, officers noticed “freshly disturbed dirt” and pine straw roughly 50 yards into a wooded area near Comer’s home.
As investigators began digging, they heard Koah crying beneath the ground.
“So as you imagine, the race was on,” Koon said, describing the frantic rescue. “Everybody’s getting down there trying to get him out.”
The sheriff said Koah had been confined in the roughly 2-by-2-foot crate and buried in the shallow hole for about 24 hours before he was found.
“He was screaming at the top of his lungs, which is a good thing in the baby world, I would guess,” Koon said.
Koon believes the towel wrapped around the crate may have helped create an air pocket that allowed the baby to breathe.
Koah remained hospitalized and was “clinging to life” Tuesday afternoon. Still, Koon said he hoped the infant would “make a full recovery.”
“Hopefully at 11 months old, he will not remember much of this as he grows older, just to have a great inspiring story to tell,” the sheriff added.
Comer remained in custody Tuesday afternoon, while prosecutors determine whether he will face additional charges connected to Koah’s disappearance.
Authorities have not identified a motive. Koon said there had been previous domestic violence incidents involving Comer and Koah’s mother.
Comer’s arrest came about a month after he pleaded guilty to aggravated breach of peace and was placed on probation, according to court records cited by the local station.
He was also arrested earlier this year in connection with domestic violence and a weapons-related offense.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.