Father accused of burying 11-month-old son alive in South Carolina denied bond
A South Carolina man charged with attempted murder for allegedly burying his 11-month-old son alive was denied bond on Thursday, as family members spoke out about the baby's miraculous rescue.
The accused is Michael Comer, 25. According to authorities in Lexington County, Comer took off with his son, Koah Sharp, on Monday, sparking a search due to custody-related concerns.
The Lexington County Sheriff's Department says the father was located later that night hiding in an outbuilding in Batesburg-Leesville, but the baby was nowhere to be found. After spending what is believed to be 24 hours underground, Koah was found by first responders on Tuesday inside a dog crate buried in the woods. Authorities said he is expected to make a full recovery.
In addition to attempted murder, Comer's charges include unlawful conduct toward a child and custodial interference, authorities said. A judge denied him bond during his first court appearance on Thursday, and his next court date has been set for Dec. 10. Attorney information was not immediately available.
Authorities did not state an alleged motive. Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said at a press briefing on Tuesday that there were "obviously some issues" between Comer and the baby's mother, referring to some recent domestic violence-type charges. Online court records show Comer was sentenced to probation in October after pleading guilty to domestic violence and aggravated breach-of-peace charges.
The search for Koah began on Monday afternoon. The sheriff said the baby had been left in his father's care at the father's mother's home while she ran an errand, and another caregiver was coming to the house — but by the time that person arrived, the father and son were gone.
A search party ultimately located the baby on Tuesday afternoon, buried near Comer's father's house in the woods after digging through freshly disturbed ground, the sheriff said. Koah's grandfather, John Comer, told The Associated Press that the baby had no food or a diaper. "They pulled him out the ground. He was crying," John Comer told the AP while walking in the area where Koah was found. "They got him out the ground, and he quit crying."
"The whole thing is a miracle, an explosion of tears, joy. I became ecstatic. My hands straight in the air," the grandfather told the AP. "I'm looking in the sky, jumping up and down, praising God." Koah's great-aunt, Amber Hammond, told the AP she went over to her sister's house on Monday to check on Comer and Koah and they were gone. "We make no excuses for Michael at all. What he did is unjustified, horrible," she said. "I'm just thankful that God looked out for that baby."
The sheriff said Koah was released from the hospital on Tuesday night. He is with family members and is expected to make a full recovery.
