A missing infant’s faint cries from beneath freshly turned earth led rescuers to a discovery that defied all odds in Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina. Koah Sharp, just 11 months old, spent approximately 24 hours buried underground in a dog crate before being rescued alive by more than 100 first responders who had been desperately searching for him.
Rescuers follow cries to shallow grave
The massive search operation began Monday afternoon near the home of Koah’s grandfather. First responders combed the area methodically, hoping to find the missing child. Approximately 50 yards into the woods on a neighboring property, search teams spotted disturbed soil. What they heard next changed everything—the unmistakable sound of a baby crying from underground.
The rescue team immediately began digging and discovered Koah buried roughly one foot below the surface. He had been placed inside a dog crate and wrapped in a towel. According to Sheriff Jay Koon, the infant was “crying the most joyful sound you ever heard of a crying baby.” The sheriff credited the towel with creating a crucial air pocket, while cooler temperatures likely aided the baby’s survival during his underground ordeal.
“By the grace of God, [it] probably provided enough air for him to survive an estimated 24 hours under that dirt,” Koon noted, adding “Certainly, God is good.”
Family member faces attempted murder charges
Following the rescue, authorities arrested Michael Comer, Koah’s father, charging him with attempted murder, burglary, unlawful conduct toward a child, and custodial interference. Officers found him hiding in an outbuilding. During court proceedings, an investigator testified that Comer displayed no remorse and had attempted to leave the state, leading a judge to deny bond.
The case has a troubling backstory. Patricia Comer, Michael’s mother, had contacted 911 expressing concerns about leaving the baby in his care. She informed dispatchers that her son suffered from severe schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression, and had requested sleeping pills the previous night.
However, John Comer, Koah’s grandfather who had welcomed them into his home that day, observed no warning signs. He recalled, “He was not emotional. He was not excited. He was just, he appeared a loving, a loving and caring father. He fed the baby. He changed the baby’s diaper. He held the baby. The baby played for a while. He was in his right mind.”
Previous domestic violence incident revealed
Court documents show Michael Comer was already serving probation for a domestic violence offense involving Koah’s mother. In that incident, he pushed Dezarae Sharp while she held the baby.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist Sharp, who family members say is currently ill and pregnant, with mounting medical and legal expenses.
John Comer, despite being the suspect’s father, expressed no sympathy for his son. Struggling with emotion, he stated, “Koah’s alive. He’s alive. That’s what matters.”
Infant released from hospital with positive prognosis
Medical professionals discharged Koah from the hospital Tuesday night, and doctors anticipate he will achieve a complete recovery. He is now reunited with his family.
The grandfather reflected on the miraculous nature of the rescue, telling reporters, “God had to have laid in the ground with Koah for the entire, entirety of that time.” He also declared, “Only God can deliver miracles in this fashion.”
Sheriff Koon emphasized the extraordinary circumstances that allowed the infant to survive what should have been an unsurvivable situation. The combination of the air pocket created by the towel wrapping, the shallow burial depth, and favorable temperature conditions all contributed to Koah’s survival during the approximately 24-hour period underground.
“In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.” Psalm 18:6 NKJV
