Father of infant buried alive in US charged with attempted murder

The father of an 11-month-old boy rescued after being buried alive in a dog crate has been charged with attempted murder in South Carolina, police said.

Koah Sharp was found wrapped in a towel in ​a dog crate, ​according to the sheriff's department, and had been buried for around 24 hours.

The boy's father, Michael Comer, 25, faces attempted murder and other charges. He was found hiding in an outbuilding in Batesburg-Leesville.

The sheriff's department said Koah - taken to hospital on Tuesday - ​survived because of cool temperatures and an air pocket created by the towel that was wrapped around the crate below ground.

Koah was reported as missing in Lexington County and was found after a search party discovered "freshly disturbed" dirt in the woods around 46 metres from ⁠Comer's ​father's house.

"Certainly God is good. Just ⁠a few moments ago, we found little ​Koah, 11 months old, buried alive, clinging to life, ​crying - the most joyful sound you ever heard of a crying baby," Lexington County sheriff Jay Koon told a ​news conference.

More than 100 police and public safety officers joined the search.

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The baby was released from the hospital on Tuesday night and he is expected to make a full recovery, Mr Koon said. He is with family members, the sheriff's office said.

Police said Koah had been in the care of Comer's mother on the day he went missing. She had to run an errand and left the boy in Comer's care while another caregiver was on the way, Mr Koon said.

"By the time the caregiver got there, Michael was gone, and Koah was gone with him," the sheriff said.

During the search, officers were looking for a "bright boy with reddish blond hair", the sheriff's office said.

After a full day of searching, police found freshly disturbed soil in the woods not far from the home of the boy's grandfather.

"Everyone was trying to get him out," Mr Koon said.

The boy's great-aunt, Amber Hammond, who was watching as he was freed from the crate, said: "We're better now that we know that Koah is safe."

(c) Sky News 2026: Father of infant buried alive in US charged with attempted murder