Search teams pulled an 11-month-old boy alive from a towel-wrapped dog crate buried in South Carolina woods after hearing his cries, authorities said.
Story Highlights
- Deputies found the baby in a buried wire dog crate after hearing crying during a daylong search.
- Sheriff said a towel may have created an air pocket that helped the child survive.
- Searchers located the site near a home tied to the father’s family, about 50 yards away.
- The father, Michael Comer, was arrested earlier on burglary and resisting arrest; more charges are under review.
Deputies Locate Infant Crying Underground Near Family Property
Lexington County deputies said they found 11-month-old Koah alive inside a wire dog crate that had been buried under freshly disturbed soil in woods near Parthenon Road. Searchers reported hearing the infant crying sometime between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m., then digging to reach him and pull the crate free. The discovery happened close to a residence linked to the father’s family, with one outlet reporting the site was about 50 yards from the grandfather’s home. Authorities moved quickly to get the child medical care.
The boy vanished after being left in the care of his father, Michael Comer, on Monday, according to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies later arrested Comer, but he did not have the child with him at the time. The department said it was working with the local solicitor on possible additional charges tied to the case. Multiple outlets reported the rescue occurred roughly a day after Koah was last seen and that the search lasted over 24 hours.
Rescue Details: Towel, Air Pocket, And Fast Action
Sheriff Jay Koon told local media that the crate was wrapped in a towel and buried shallowly, and that the towel may have created a small air pocket that helped the child stay alive long enough to be found. Rescuers described an intensely careful recovery once they heard crying and saw disturbed soil. The reported timeline placed Koah underground for about a day, based on when he was last seen and when searchers found him, according to local coverage of the sheriff’s account. Officials did not cite a scientific time estimate.
Deputies and search teams focused attention on land near the family home after spotting signs of fresh digging. That led them to the crate and towel under a layer of dirt. The sheriff said hearing the crying was the key break that directed them to the exact spot in the woods. The baby was described as alive and in need of urgent medical help at the scene. Authorities did not release detailed medical findings on his condition at the time of rescue.
Father Arrested Separately As Prosecutors Weigh Charges
The Sheriff’s Department said Michael Comer was arrested on burglary and resisting arrest, while investigators and the solicitor’s office considered additional charges related to the infant’s disappearance and rescue. Local reporting noted that, at the time of the early statements, authorities had not publicly listed a specific charge claiming who buried the crate. That status can change as investigators process evidence and consult prosecutors. Officials emphasized that the priority was finding the child alive and safe.
The department’s public notice tied the timeline together: the infant was taken by his father Monday afternoon, Comer was later arrested without the baby, and search teams then found Koah alive on Tuesday. Newsrooms covering the case relied heavily on statements from Sheriff Koon and the department, which is typical during the first phase of a child search and rescue. The operative facts remain clear: a concealed crate, disturbed soil, crying heard by rescuers, and a live recovery.
Why This Matters To Families And Law And Order
Swift police work and attentive neighbors saved a child’s life. That is the headline. Law enforcement listened, searched, and followed clues to a patch of dirt in the woods. They made the rescue in time. Families expect government to do the basics well: protect the innocent and enforce the law. This case shows why strong local policing, clear lines of authority, and fast decisions matter. When minutes count, red tape and weak follow-through can cost lives. Here, action won.
An 11-month-old boy Koah Sharpe was found alive in South Carolina after he was believed to have been buried inside a dog crate for about 24 hours, local police said.
The infant, Koah Sharpe, was found on Tuesday was buried just under the surface in the woods— KylieB (@burkylie12) November 12, 2026
Parents know that trouble often comes from close to home. Research shows family members are often the perpetrators in child killings worldwide, which is one reason deputies press hard on the first day of a case. South Carolina law and prosecutors will sort out charges based on facts and evidence. For now, a baby is alive because deputies did the job. That is what every parent, grandparent, and neighbor prays for when a child goes missing.
Sources:
washingtontimes.com, inforum.com, lexingtonscsheriff.com, wach.com, newsnationnow.com, kiro7.com, wistv.com, wbaltv.com
