A 25-year-old man in the United States has been charged with attempted murder after his 11-month-old son was discovered buried alive inside a dog crate in a wooded area in South Carolina.
The infant, identified as Koah Sharp, reportedly spent about 24 hours underground before rescuers located and pulled him out of the soil in Lexington County.
According to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, the baby was found inside a wire dog crate, wrapped in a towel and buried under approximately one foot of soil.
The shocking discovery was made after search teams noticed freshly disturbed ground while searching for the missing child.
As rescuers began digging, they heard the infant crying beneath the earth.
Koah was immediately taken to a hospital for medical attention but was discharged on Tuesday night and is expected to make a full recovery, Sheriff Jay Koon disclosed.
The child’s father, 25-year-old Michael Comer, was arrested on Monday night after police found him hiding inside an outbuilding.
He was initially detained on allegations of burglary and resisting arrest before authorities announced additional charges on Wednesday.
The new charges include attempted murder, unlawful conduct towards a child, custodial interference and other offences.
Investigators said the incident occurred after Comer was left responsible for the baby while another caregiver was expected to take over his care.
However, when the caregiver arrived, both the father and the child were missing, prompting authorities to launch an extensive search operation.
More than 100 law enforcement officers and emergency responders participated in the search before the infant was eventually discovered buried in the wooded area.
Sheriff Koon suggested that the towel covering the crate may have created an air pocket that helped the baby remain alive underground. He also noted that the cool temperatures could have contributed to the child’s survival.
