11-Month-Old Boy Found Alive in Dog Crate After 24-Hour Burial Search
South Carolina authorities rescued 11-month-old Koah Sharpe alive from a dog crate after he was reportedly buried in the woods. Father arrested in custody.
POLICY WIRE — Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina — A miracle-like rescue unfolded when an 11-month-old boy was discovered alive after allegedly being buried inside a dog crate for nearly a full day.
Koah Sharpe, a 20-pound infant with reddish hair, was reported missing on Monday after his mother left him in the护理 of his father to attend to errands. When a scheduled caregiver arrived at the residence, both the father and the child had vanished, prompting a massive emergency search operation.
The search concluded Tuesday when nearly 100 first responders identified freshly disturbed earth in the woods located approximately 50 yards from the father’s home. They found the baby wrapped in a towel, which officials believe created a necessary air pocket that allowed him to survive the ordeal.
Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon described the emotional discovery during a press conference, Certainly God is good. Just a few moments ago, we found little Koah, 11 months old, buried alive, clinging to life, the most joyful sound you ever heard of a crying baby.
The infant’s father, 25-year-old Michael Comer, was arrested Monday night on charges of burglary and resisting arrest. The Lexington County Sheriff Department is consulting with the solicitor’s office to determine if additional charges will follow.
Patricia Comer, the boy’s mother, expressed total shock during a phone interview, stating that her son being in police custody is where he needs to be and admitting she never expected such an incident. While she holds full custody, no legal agreement was in place to prevent Comer from supervising the child alone.
The child is currently receiving medical attention at a hospital. Sheriff Koon expressed hope that the boy will not remember the trauma as he matures, noting, 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 multi-agency effort involved the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
