An eleven-month-old baby from South Carolina was discovered alive on Tuesday after being buried in a dog crate for approximately 24 hours. Authorities in Lexington County confirmed the rescue, marking a significant development in the search for the infant who went missing the previous day.
The child, identified as Koah Sharpe, had been missing since Monday. According to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department, his father, Michael Comer, took the baby from the home of the child's grandmother, Patricia Comer. Investigators noted that Comer traveled to several locations within the county during the period the infant was missing.
Comer was arrested by county deputies on Monday night on a burglary charge. However, the infant was not in his possession at the time of the arrest, which intensified the search efforts for Sharpe's location.
Sheriff Jay Koon provided details at a news conference regarding the discovery. He stated that the baby was found inside a crate that had been wrapped in a towel. The crate was located about 50 yards from the residence of the infant's grandfather, who is also Michael Comer's father. Koon noted that the area had been thoroughly searched by nearly 100 law enforcement and public safety officers.
The breakthrough occurred when one group of searchers noticed a patch of freshly disturbed dirt in a wooded area. As officers began to dig into the earth, they heard the sound of the infant crying. Koon described the moment as urgent, stating that everyone rushed to the spot to extract the child.
The sheriff described the infant as "clinging to life" when he was pulled from the ground. Koon expressed the emotional impact of the moment by calling the baby's cries "the most joyful sound you ever heard of a crying baby." The infant was immediately transported to a hospital for medical treatment following the rescue.
According to the investigation, Sharpe was in the care of his grandmother on Monday. Michael Comer stayed with the child at her house while she went out to run an errand. By the time a scheduled caregiver arrived shortly after, Comer had left with his son.
Local news outlet WLTX reported that Patricia Comer reacted with relief upon learning her grandson was found alive. She reportedly jumped out of her car and shouted, "He's alive!"
As of Tuesday's press conference, the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the infant's disappearance remained in its early stages. Sheriff Koon stated that his department is collaborating with the solicitor's office to determine what charges, if any, will be filed in the case.
