Search crews heard 11-month-old Koah Sharpe crying beneath disturbed soil in woods near a Lexington County home.
LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. — An 11-month-old boy missing for about a day was found alive Tuesday in a dog crate buried beneath the ground in rural South Carolina, ending an intensive search that began after authorities said the child disappeared while in his father’s care.
Koah Sharpe was taken to a hospital after searchers uncovered the crate in woods near the home of his paternal grandfather, according to Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon. Authorities believe the baby had been underground for about 24 hours. Koon said investigators heard the child crying as they began digging into an area where searchers had noticed freshly disturbed dirt.
The search began Monday after Koah’s mother left him in the care of his father, 25-year-old Michael Comer, while she ran an errand, authorities said. Koon said another caregiver was expected to arrive, but when that person reached the home, Koah and Comer were gone. Deputies then began trying to determine where the two had traveled.
Investigators later obtained video showing Comer in the Batesburg-Leesville area without the baby, Koon said. That discovery heightened concerns about Koah’s safety because authorities had hoped the child had been left with another caregiver. As the day continued without anyone reporting that they had the baby, deputies expanded their search.
Comer was located Monday night and arrested on a burglary charge. Authorities said Koah was not with him, and Koon said Comer did not provide information that led investigators to the baby’s location. Other reports, citing the sheriff, said Comer also faced a resisting-arrest charge. Investigators continued searching through the night and into Tuesday.
The search eventually focused on property associated with Comer’s father. Koon said investigators found baby belongings inside the residence and searched the surrounding area. Roughly 50 yards into nearby woods, searchers noticed pine straw and soil that appeared to have been recently disturbed.
Crime scene personnel and other investigators examined the site before beginning to dig. Koon said they soon heard Koah crying beneath the ground. Searchers rushed to uncover the child and found him inside a small wire dog crate that had been wrapped with a towel and placed in a shallow hole.
Koon said investigators believe the towel may have helped create an air pocket around the wire crate. He also said the cool weather may have played a role in the baby’s survival, though authorities had not announced a medical conclusion about why Koah survived. The sheriff described the child’s loud cries after the rescue as an encouraging sign.
Koah was transported to a hospital for treatment and evaluation. Authorities had not released a detailed medical update Wednesday morning, but Koon said he hoped the child would make a full recovery. Investigators have not announced a confirmed motive for what happened.
The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department was continuing to work with prosecutors to determine whether additional charges should be filed against Comer. Jail records cited by WBTV showed a burglary charge as of Wednesday morning, and the investigation into the baby’s disappearance and burial remained active.
Author note: Last updated Nov. 11, 2026.