U.S. authorities assisted an 11-month-old infant after discovering that the child had been placed inside a box by his father and buried alive for over a day before being found.
Foreign news agencies reported on 11 Nov 2026 that a boy named Koah Sharp went missing on Monday (9 Nov) after his 25-year-old father, Michael Comer, took him from his mother's home. Comer was arrested on trespassing charges that same evening, but the child was not with him at that time.
Jay Coon, sheriff of Lexington County, held a press conference stating that officials found Koah Sharp on Tuesday “buried alive” not far from his father's home, having “barely survived.” It is believed the child was trapped there for up to 24 hours.
The little boy is currently receiving hospital treatment. Sheriff Coon added that he hopes the child will fully recover, while police are considering additional charges against the father.
The search for Koah began on Monday after the father took him from his mother's home. At that time, the boy's grandmother was caring for him and briefly left the child alone with her son, Michael Comer, who quickly took Koah away.
Witnesses saw Comer traveling to several locations without the infant. He was later arrested in Lexington County without Koah. Following this, authorities dispatched a search team of about 100 police officers and firefighters to find the child immediately.
Sheriff Coon said that when officials questioned Comer about his son's whereabouts, he “did not say much” about where the child was.
Rescue workers searched a forest near Comer's home and noticed signs of freshly disturbed soil. As they began digging, they heard the infant crying—a sound the sheriff described as “the happiest noise I’ve ever heard”—before successfully rescuing the boy.
Coon explained that the box had been wrapped in a towel, likely providing enough air for Koah to survive that long, while the cold weather helped prevent overheating.
“The box was about 2 by 2 feet, typically used for a dog. So, when placed in the pit, Koah was probably at least one foot below ground level from the top of the box,” the sheriff explained.
Regarding the parents' relationship, the sheriff said, “Clearly, there were some problems.” Court records show Comer had previously pleaded guilty to domestic violence charges.
Patricia Comer, Michael Comer's mother, told NBC News that Koah's mother has sole custody but allows her to care for the child when her son visits. She said her son had cared for the infant alone before without any issues.
“Honestly, as his mother, I never imagined he could do something like this,” Patricia Comer said.
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Source:bbc