A 25-year-old Midlands father is facing multiple felony charges, including attempted murder, after authorities say he buried his 11-month-old son alive inside a dog crate near his home.
According to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Michael Comer has been charged with attempted murder, unlawful conduct toward a child, custodial interference, and burglary.
The charges follow a multi-agency search on Monday for 11-month-old Koah Sharp. Investigators believe the infant had been buried underground for at least 24 hours. Sheriff Jay Koon said the incident began when Comer’s mother, who was caring for Sharp, stepped out to run a brief errand.
“Koah was in the care of Comer’s mother. She left Koah with Comer to run an errand while another caregiver was coming over,” Koon said. “When the caregiver got there, Comer was gone and Koah was with him.”
Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies searched for the missing child. Once deputies located the buried dog crate near Comer's residence, crews worked to free the infant.
“As you can imagine, the race was on. Everyone was trying to get him out,” Koon said. “He immediately was placed in the care of EMS and transported to the hospital as soon as they got him out.”
Sharp was treated for his injuries at the hospital and has since been released into the care of family members. The investigation remains ongoing.
