11-Month-Old Baby Found Alive After Allegedly Being Buried in Dog Crate for 24 Hours

An 11-month-old boy in South Carolina was found alive after allegedly being placed inside a dog crate, wrapped in a towel, and buried beneath the ground for approximately 24 hours. The child, identified as Koah Sharpe, was discovered by search teams on November 10, 2026, after an extensive search involving nearly 100 public safety officials. Authorities described the rescue as extraordinary, saying the infant was still crying and clinging to life when they reached him.

The search began the previous day after Koah disappeared while in the care of his father, 25-year-old Michael Comer. According to Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon, Koah’s mother had left the baby with his father while she ran errands. Another caregiver was expected to arrive, but by the time that person reached the home, both Comer and the child were gone. Family members contacted authorities, prompting deputies to launch an urgent search.

Investigators soon focused on the area around the home of Comer’s father, where they found the baby’s belongings but no sign of the missing child. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Comer getting rides around the area without Koah, raising further concerns about the infant’s whereabouts. Deputies eventually located Comer late Monday night inside an outbuilding in Batesburg-Leesville. He was arrested on an initial burglary charge, but the baby was nowhere to be found.

The search continued into Tuesday, with nearly 100 officers, firefighters, and other emergency personnel combing the surrounding area. While searching in the woods approximately 50 yards from Comer’s father’s home, investigators noticed pine straw and freshly disturbed soil. As they began digging, they heard a baby crying beneath the ground. Searchers then uncovered a wire dog crate wrapped in a towel, with Koah trapped inside. Sheriff Koon said the towel may have created an air pocket that allowed the infant to breathe while buried.

Authorities estimated that Koah had been underground for about 24 hours. He was immediately taken to a hospital for medical treatment. Sheriff Koon expressed hope that the child would make a full recovery, although officials had not released a detailed medical update at the time of the report. He also suggested that cooler nighttime temperatures may have contributed to the baby’s survival.

Comer was initially arrested on burglary and resisting-arrest charges, while investigators worked with prosecutors to determine what additional charges should be filed. Authorities had not publicly established a motive for the alleged incident. The investigation remains ongoing, and Comer has not been convicted in connection with the baby’s burial. For now, the most important development is that Koah was found alive after a search that could have ended very differently