A 25-year-old South Carolina man accused of kidnapping his infant son and burying him alive has been denied bond and will remain in custody pending further court proceedings.
Michael Comer faces charges of attempted murder and unlawfully placing a child at risk after his 11-month-old son, Koah Sharp, was allegedly buried inside a dog crate near his grandfather’s home in Batesburg-Leesville on November 9.
His next court appearance is scheduled for December 10 at the Lexington County Courthouse.
Baby Found Buried in Dog Crate
Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said Koah was discovered inside a dog crate wrapped in a towel and buried beneath dirt and pine straw.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, Koon described the infant as being in a critical condition when search teams found him. The sheriff said Koah was crying when rescuers located him, adding that the child had been “clinging for life.”
Authorities believe the baby may have spent approximately 24 hours buried before being rescued.
The search involved around 100 emergency responders. Teams eventually heard Koah crying from a pile of pine straw in a wooded area approximately 50 yards from the home of Comer’s father.
Search Began After Father and Child Disappeared
Koah had initially been left in the care of his grandmother, Patricia Comer, Michael Comer’s mother.
According to Sheriff Koon, Patricia left the infant with her son while she went to run an errand. A caregiver was expected to arrive afterwards, but when that person reached the home, neither Michael nor Koah was there.
Koon said investigators traced the pair to the home of Comer’s father, located a short distance away. Officers found both doors open and the baby’s belongings inside, but there was no sign of either the father or the child.
As the search continued without information about their whereabouts, concerns increased.
On November 10, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office appealed to the public for assistance in locating the missing infant. The department stated that Koah had been taken by his father and confirmed that Comer had been arrested on a burglary charge late Monday night, although the baby was not with him.
Comer Arrested at an Outbuilding
Police eventually located Comer in an outbuilding near Columbia Avenue in Batesburg.
He was initially arrested on charges of burglary and resisting arrest. Authorities said he provided little information about where the infant was during his arrest.
The subsequent search led investigators to the wooded area near his father’s property, where Koah was found buried.
Comer was later charged with attempted murder and unlawfully placing a child at risk.
Victims’ Advocates Oppose His Release
Two victims’ advocates asked the judge to deny Comer bond, according to WLTX. They argued on behalf of Koah and said Comer had shown “no remorse” after being informed that his son had been found alive.
The judge denied bond, meaning Comer must remain in jail while awaiting his next court appearance.
Family Members Speak About the Incident
Patricia Comer addressed the incident in a Facebook post, describing the experience of her grandson going missing and her son’s alleged involvement as heartbreaking.
“I have not slept in over 24 hours…you don’t know what it’s like to lose a grandchild like that and have your son do something like this,” she wrote.
She added that she was not seeking sympathy but said the situation had been extremely painful.
Patricia also said she knew her son had problems but had not realised they could lead to such an incident. She described him as someone who loved his baby and would do anything for him.
Sheriff Koon confirmed that Koah had frequently been cared for by his grandmother before the incident.
Authorities Confirm Previous Domestic Disputes
Koon also referred to previous difficulties between Comer and Koah’s mother, Dezarae Sharp, saying there had been recent domestic violence-related charges and court outcomes.
“There were obviously some issues; certainly, children sometimes get caught up in that,” the sheriff said.
Sharp told the Daily Mail that Comer had been permitted to visit his son on weekends after attending therapy and stopping drinking.
She alleged that Comer’s jealousy over other men had contributed to what happened during the weekend visit. Sharp also expressed concern about his potential risk to himself and others.
The Lexington County Sheriff’s Office and the Lexington County Public Defender’s Office were contacted by the Daily Mail for comment.
