Buried infant survives 24 hours in dog crate before rescue in South Carolina woods

An 11-month-old boy survived 24 hours buried in a dog crate in South Carolina. Koah Sharp was pulled from a shallow grave in Lexington County on Tuesday. He went home to his family that same night.

Koah was found about a foot below the surface. He was inside a wire dog crate wrapped in a towel. The towel created an air pocket that kept him alive. Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said the outdoor temperature was 45 degrees. That cold likely slowed the baby's metabolism. Koon said a lot of factors worked in the child's favor.

"The Good Lord looked down on him," Koon said. He also credited the large law enforcement response. A searcher noticed disturbed ground in the woods. The quick discovery allowed rescuers to dig the boy out before his condition worsened.

Koah's father, Michael Comer, 25, was arrested Monday night. Police found him in a shed in Batesburg-Leesville. He was charged with burglary at that time. Later, prosecutors added charges for attempted murder, unlawful conduct toward a child, and custodial interference. Comer was denied bond on Thursday morning.

Comer had custody of Koah for about four days. He had recently been released from jail for other offenses. Authorities said Comer texted Koah's mother. In those messages, he reportedly threatened to keep the child or gain custody. He also said he felt like killing himself and planned to move to New York.

On Monday, Comer's mother was caring for Koah in Gaston. She left to run an errand. Another caregiver was on the way. By the time the new caregiver arrived, Comer and Koah were gone. Koon said Comer left Gaston around 9 a.m. He was in Batesburg-Leesville around noon. Officials believe that is when the baby was buried.

A relative filed a missing person report by 3 p.m. Monday. Police tracked Comer's movements on foot. He went to several locations without a car. Video showed Comer in the area without the baby. "So certainly, we got worried, hoping and praying that he dropped the baby with another person," Koon said. As the day passed without news of the child, concerns grew.

Search efforts began Monday night. A helicopter from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division flew over the Parthenon Road area. Officers focused on the woods near Comer's father's home. Around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, one of about 100 searchers saw disturbed dirt. It was about 50 yards into the trees. Crime scene technicians checked the spot immediately.

"You could hear little Koah crying," Koon said. "As you can imagine, the race was on. Everybody's getting down there trying to get him out." Rescuers dug quickly. Koah was taken to a hospital around 2 p.m. Tuesday. Doctors said he is expected to make a full recovery.

Comer had been on probation for a month. He pleaded guilty to aggravated breach of peace earlier this year. Court records also showed a domestic violence arrest and a weapons-related arrest from earlier in the year. His next court appearance is scheduled for December 10.