An 11-month-old boy was found crying inside a buried dog crate in Lexington County, South Carolina, on Tuesday, 10 November, after an estimated 24 hours underground. His father, Michael Comer, 25, has been charged with attempted murder, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department.

Comer also faces charges of unlawful conduct towards a child, custodial interference and burglary, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department. The child, identified in the article as Koah Sharp, was found near Batesburg-Leesville, more than a day after he was last seen with his father.

Sheriff Jay Koon described the boy as 'clinging to life' when rescuers found him. The Associated Press reported that Koah was released from hospital that night and was expected to make a full recovery.

Comer appeared at a bond hearing on Thursday, 12 November, but a judge denied his release. The judge also approved the appointment of a public defender and scheduled another hearing for 10 December. Comer has not been convicted of the charges.

How the Search for Koah Unfolded

Deputies were called shortly after lunchtime on Monday, 9 November, after Koah was reported missing. Sheriff Koon said the boy had been with Comer's mother, who left him in her son's care briefly while she ran an errand. Another caregiver was expected to arrive. By the time they got there, Comer and the baby were gone.

Officers searched the home of Comer's father in Batesburg-Leesville. Both doors were open and the child's belongings were inside, but neither father nor son was there.

Security footage later showed Comer in the area without the baby, the sheriff's department said. He was found hiding in an outbuilding in Batesburg on Monday night and arrested on a burglary charge. Koah was not with him.

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The Discovery Near His Grandfather's Home

Investigators found Koah the following afternoon in a wooded area near his paternal grandfather's home. He was inside a dog crate wrapped in a towel, which the sheriff estimated measured about two feet by two feet. Searchers noticed disturbed ground and heard the baby crying before digging him out.

Koon said the towel may have helped create an air pocket inside the crate, which he believes helped the boy survive. Authorities believe Koah had been underground for about 24 hours, but that is an estimate, not an established timeframe.

The Associated Press reported that he was released from hospital that night. The information available does not include details of his medical condition.

What the Charges and Records Show

The charges of attempted murder, unlawful conduct towards a child and custodial interference were added on Wednesday, according to arrest warrants. The burglary charge dates from Comer's arrest on Monday night, before Koah was found.

At Thursday's bond hearing, lead investigator Tyler Douglas told the court that Comer had shown no remorse and had tried to flee South Carolina. The judge approved the appointment of a public defender. An attorney had not yet been appointed, according to the Associated Press.

This report draws on statements from the sheriff's department, arrest warrants and reporting by the Associated Press and local broadcasters. Medical Daily has not independently verified the sheriff's estimate of how long Koah was underground.

Comer remains in custody after being denied bond, with another hearing scheduled for 10 December.

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