Baby Found Buried Alive in Dog Crate After 24 Hours: Who Is Father Michael Comer?

The father of 11-month-old Koah Sharpe was arrested after the infant disappeared while in his care and was later found buried alive inside a dog crate in South Carolina. Authorities believe Koah remained underground for approximately 24 hours before a search team discovered him in a wooded area near Batesburg-Leesville.

The father was arrested on Nov. 9 on burglary and resisting arrest charges after authorities located him at an outbuilding in Batesburg. However, Koah was not with him, and the search for the infant continued into the following day.

The baby was found on Nov. 10 inside a wire dog crate wrapped in a towel and buried beneath dirt and pine straw. Sheriff Jay Koon said the covering may have helped the infant survive by creating an air pocket. Koah was taken to a hospital following the rescue.

Michael Comer Identified as Koah Sharpe’s Father

Michael Comer, 25, was identified as Koah Sharpe’s father. According to Sheriff Jay Koon, Koah was staying with his paternal grandmother on Nov. 9 when Comer arrived and later left with the infant while she was running an errand.

When another caregiver arrived, both Comer and Koah were missing. “By the time the caregiver got there, Michael was gone and Koah was gone with him,” Koon told WIS News 10. Family members reported the infant missing, and investigators found the nearby residence with its doors open and the baby’s belongings inside. Authorities believed Comer had traveled across Lexington County using rides because he did not have access to a vehicle.

Michael Comer’s Arrest and the Missing Child Search

Authorities found Comer late Monday at an outbuilding in Batesburg, but Koah was missing. He was arrested on burglary and resisting arrest charges while the search continued. Investigators were consulting prosecutors about possible additional charges.

Sheriff Jay Koon explained that an Amber Alert was not issued because authorities lacked a vehicle description and license plate number. “To be able to issue an Amber Alert, you have to have a known description of a car and a license plate to put that out,” he said, according to WIS News 10. Investigators believed Comer had relied on rides to travel between locations and reviewed footage placing him in the Batesburg-Leesville area without the infant.

Nearly 100 Responders Joined the Search for Koah

The search continued into Tuesday, involving approximately 100 personnel from local law enforcement, fire services, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Investigators found freshly disturbed dirt and pine straw in a wooded area about 50 yards from Comer’s father’s home. As they began digging, they heard Koah crying beneath the ground and discovered him inside the buried crate. Sheriff Jay Koon described the infant as “clinging to life” and called his cries “the most joyful sound you ever heard of a crying baby.” He added, “So as you imagine, the race was on,” as rescuers rushed to free the child and get him medical attention.

Towel-Wrapped Dog Crate May Have Helped the Baby Survive

Koon said Koah was placed inside a wire dog crate wrapped in a towel and buried beneath the ground. He suggested the covering may have created an air pocket, saying it had “probably provided enough air” for the infant to survive approximately 24 hours underground.

Rescuers found Koah crying inside the crate and rushed him to a hospital. Koon said he would “hopefully” make a full recovery, although authorities had not provided a detailed medical update.

Michael Comer’s Family Reacts to the Incident

Comer’s mother, Patricia Comer, told NBC News she was shocked by the allegations, saying, “Honestly, I’m his mother, and I never expected this from him.”

She said Koah’s mother had full custody but allowed her to supervise visits. Michael had previously cared for the infant without supervision, she added. Patricia recalled becoming concerned when a friend went to drop off formula but received no answer. “Something just did not feel right,” she said, explaining why she left work to return home. She denied knowing that the incident would happen and thanked the authorities who helped find her grandson.

Court Records Show Previous Legal Issues

Separate reporting by WIS News 10, citing public court and state records, said Comer had been placed on probation just over a month before the incident after pleading guilty to aggravated breach of peace.

The outlet also reported that court records showed previous arrests earlier in 2026 involving domestic violence and a weapons-related charge.

These records provide additional background on Comer’s legal history, but previous arrests should not be treated as convictions. The available reporting does not establish that those earlier cases were directly connected to Koah’s disappearance.

Investigation Continues as Prosecutors Consider Additional Charges

Comer was arrested on burglary and resisting arrest charges, according to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Investigators were working with prosecutors to determine whether additional charges would be filed.

Authorities had not publicly established a motive for the incident in the reports available at the time. The circumstances surrounding Koah’s disappearance and the events leading to his discovery remained part of the investigation.

Meanwhile, Koah’s rescue brought an end to the urgent search involving local, state and federal agencies. Koon thanked the people who took part in the operation and said, “We want to thank everybody and just celebrate the fact today that an 11-month-old baby is alive.”