Bond denied after baby is found alive beneath disturbed soil in South Carolina
A judge kept Michael Comer in custody on attempted-murder and child-endangerment charges after rescuers found his 11-month-old son alive in a buried dog crate.
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- 12 November 2026
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Judge refuses bond on attempted-murder charge
A Lexington County magistrate denied bond to Michael Comer, 25, after an investigator told the court that Comer tried to leave South Carolina and showed no remorse following the alleged attempt to kill his 11-month-old son, Koah Sharp. Comer is charged with attempted murder, burglary and unlawfully placing a child at risk. The judge approved a public defender and set another hearing for December 10. A lawyer had not yet entered a public response to the allegations at the time of the hearing, and Comer is presumed innocent. [1] [2] [3]
Searchers heard a child crying underground
The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department said Koah disappeared Monday after his grandmother left him with Comer while another caregiver was on the way. Deputies arrested Comer later that night while the baby remained missing. After an extensive search, crews noticed freshly disturbed ground in a wooded area near Batesburg-Leesville and heard crying. They uncovered a dog crate holding the child beneath the soil roughly 24 hours after he disappeared. Sheriff Jay Koon said cool weather and an air pocket created by a towel around the crate may have helped Koah survive. [1] [2] [3]
Infant released from hospital
Koah was taken for emergency treatment and released from the hospital Tuesday night. Medical staff expected him to make a full recovery, according to authorities. He was placed with relatives. Investigators have not announced a motive for the alleged burial. Court records reviewed by the Associated Press show Comer had recently received probation after pleading guilty in a separate domestic-violence case involving the child’s mother. Prosecutors dropped a gun charge in that earlier plea agreement. Those prior proceedings are separate from the new attempted-murder case. [1] [2] [3]
Investigation remains open
The sheriff’s department worked with fire crews and state and federal agencies during the search. Detectives continue examining Comer’s movements, the location where the crate was found and communications made before and after the disappearance. The charging decision starts a criminal case but does not resolve whether the state can prove intent to kill, a required element of attempted murder. Future proceedings will address probable cause, discovery, possible indictment and the defense position once counsel is appointed. [1] [2] [3]
The child’s recovery remains central to the investigation
Medical evidence will help investigators determine how long the baby was exposed, whether the child suffered lasting injury and which treatment was required after rescue. Detectives will also examine the timeline before the child was found, including witness accounts, phone data and the scene itself. The judge’s bond decision concerns release conditions and public-safety considerations; it is not a verdict on the charges. Comer is entitled to counsel, discovery and an opportunity to contest the prosecution’s evidence. Because the victim is an infant, authorities have limited identifying and medical details. Future court filings may refine the charges as prosecutors receive laboratory results and a fuller medical assessment. The child’s privacy and safety outweigh public curiosity, so reporting should not publish information that could identify the infant. [1] [2] [3]
Sources & further reading
- Baby found after being buried alive in Lexington County ↗Lexington County Sheriff’s Department · 2026-11-11 · Primary source
- Bond denied for South Carolina man accused of burying his 11-month-old son alive ↗Associated Press · 2026-11-12
- Baby boy found alive after believed buried for 24 hours ↗Reuters · 2026-11-11
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