An 11-month-old baby was rescued in South Carolina, in the US, after he was found buried inside a dog kennel. His father allegedly left him under the ground.
Koah Sharpe was found on Tuesday afternoon, November 10, after more than 24 hours of searching. According to authorities, he had spent about a day underground, inside the kennel wrapped in a towel.
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Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said the towel may have left an air pocket that helped the baby survive.
“We found little 11-month-old Koah buried alive, fighting for his life and crying. It was the most beautiful sound we could have heard,” the sheriff said at a press conference.
Investigators say the baby was in the care of his grandmother, Patricia Comer, when his father, 25-year-old Michael Comer, arrived at the home on Monday. The grandmother entrusted the child to her son to run an errand, while another person was expected to come and care for him.
When the caregiver arrived, neither Michael Comer nor the baby was at the home. Family members notified police that the child was missing, and authorities began searching several areas of Lexington County.
On Monday evening, Michael Comer was found in an outbuilding in the Batesburg-Leesville area. He was initially arrested on charges related to burglary and resisting arrest.
The baby was not with him, so the search continued overnight and throughout Tuesday. About 100 officers and members of search-and-rescue teams took part in the operation. The decisive clue was discovered in a wooded area about 45 meters from Michael Comer’s home.
Searchers noticed that the soil had recently been disturbed. As they began checking the area, they heard the baby crying. They immediately started digging, pulled him out of the kennel and rushed him to the hospital. According to the sheriff, Koah had been underground for about 24 hours.
Investigators are working to determine the motive behind the incident. The baby’s mother and Michael Comer were no longer together, while family members have raised suspicions that jealousy may have played a role. The child’s grandmother also said she was concerned about her son’s mental health. Authorities are working with prosecutors to determine whether additional charges will be filed against the 25-year-old. Koah is being treated in hospital, and authorities hope he will make a full recovery.
