Searchers heard 11-month-old Koah Sharpe crying beneath freshly disturbed soil after an urgent search involving nearly 100 responders.
BATESBURG-LEESVILLE, S.C. — An 11-month-old boy was found alive Tuesday inside a dog crate that had been shallowly buried in woods in Lexington County, about a day after authorities say he disappeared while in his father’s care.
Koah Sharpe was wrapped in a towel inside the crate when searchers reached him, Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. Authorities believe the baby had been underground for about 24 hours. He was taken to a hospital for treatment after his rescue, and Koon said officials hoped he would recover.
The search began Monday after Koah disappeared while in the care of his father, 25-year-old Michael Comer, according to authorities. Investigators said Koah had been left with Comer while another caregiver was expected to arrive. By the time that caregiver reached the home, Comer and the baby were gone.
Deputies located Comer later Monday night, but Koah was not with him. Comer was arrested on burglary and resisting arrest charges, according to authorities. Investigators were working with prosecutors to determine whether additional charges were warranted in connection with the child’s disappearance and the circumstances in which he was found. No motive had been publicly established.
The search continued into Tuesday and involved nearly 100 law enforcement officers, firefighters and other public safety personnel. Investigators focused on an area near the home of Comer’s father after authorities traced the search to several locations connected to the case.
Searchers eventually noticed pine straw and freshly disturbed soil about 50 yards into a wooded area, Koon said. As members of the search team began digging, they heard Koah crying beneath the ground. They quickly uncovered the crate and removed the child.
Koon said the dog crate had been wrapped in a towel and suggested that the covering may have left enough space for air to reach the infant while he was underground. Authorities have not released detailed medical information about Koah’s injuries or condition beyond confirming that he survived and was receiving hospital care.
Before Koah was found, authorities had issued public appeals for information about his whereabouts. The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department described him as a 20-pound infant with reddish-blond hair and blue eyes and said investigators were trying to determine where Comer had traveled after leaving with the child.
The investigation remained active Wednesday as authorities reviewed the circumstances surrounding Koah’s disappearance and rescue. Comer remained in custody on the charges announced after his arrest, while prosecutors and investigators considered whether further charges were supported by the evidence.
Author note: Last updated November 11, 2026.