Buried Alive in Dog Crate, Baby Found Crying
Bastillepost · 3 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
An 11-month-old baby boy, Koah Sharpe, was rescued alive in Lexington County, South Carolina, after authorities said he had been buried underground inside a dog crate for about 24 hours. The child had disappeared on November 9 after his 25-year-old father, Michael Comer, took him while he was staying with his paternal grandmother near Batesburg-Leesville. A search involving roughly 100 law enforcement officers and emergency personnel ended when rescuers spotted freshly disturbed soil in a wooded area near a residence and then heard the baby crying from below ground. Koah was found wrapped in a towel inside the crate, taken to hospital in critical condition, and was reported to have a chance of full recovery.
Key Points
- Authorities said Koah Sharpe vanished on November 9 after Michael Comer arrived at a residence near Batesburg-Leesville and left with the child.
- Family members alerted police after another caregiver arrived and found both father and baby gone from the grandmother’s care setting.
- Deputies arrested Comer late on November 9 in an outbuilding or shed, but Koah was not with him and his whereabouts remained unknown.
- Search teams of about 100 people found loose grass, freshly turned soil, and then heard crying before digging up a wire dog crate.
- Sheriff Jay Koon said a towel around the crate appeared to create an air pocket, helping the baby survive underground.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the case is a stark reminder that missing-child incidents can turn into life-threatening crimes within hours, making rapid reporting and coordinated searches crucial. It also shows how practical obstacles in tracing a suspect’s movements, including the lack of vehicle information for an alert, can complicate early rescue efforts.