Father accused of burying 11-month-old son alive denied bond

A South Carolina man charged with attempted murder for allegedly burying his 11-month-old son alive was denied bond on Thursday, as family members spoke out about the baby's miraculous rescue.

Michael Comer, 25, took off with his son, Koah Sharp, on Monday, sparking a search due to "custody-related concerns," according to authorities in Lexington County.

The father was located later that night hiding in an outbuilding in Batesburg-Leesville, but the baby was nowhere to be found, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department.

After spending what is believed to be 24 hours underground, Koah was found by first responders Tuesday inside a dog crate buried in the woods, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department. He is expected to make a full recovery, authorities said.

In addition to attempted murder, Comer's charges include unlawful conduct toward a child and custodial interference, authorities said. A judge denied him bond during his first court appearance on Thursday, and his next court date has been set for Dec. 10. Attorney information was not immediately available.

Authorities did not state an alleged motive in the incident, though Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said there were "obviously some issues" between Comer and the baby's mother.

"The mother of the child and him have had some situations," Koon said during a press briefing on Tuesday, referring to "some recent domestic violence-type charges."

Comer was sentenced to probation in October after pleading guilty to domestic violence and aggravated breach-of-peace charges, online court records show.

The search for Koah began Monday afternoon. He had been left in his father's care at the father’s mother's home while she ran an errand, according to Koon. Another caregiver was coming to the house, but by the time that person arrived, the father and son were gone, the sheriff said.

A search party ultimately located the baby Tuesday afternoon, buried near Comer's father's house after digging through freshly disturbed ground, the sheriff said.

Koah's grandfather, John Comer, told The Associated Press that the baby had no food or a diaper.

"They pulled him out the ground. He was crying," John Comer told the AP while walking in the area of the woods near his home where Koah was found. "They got him out the ground, and he quit crying."

John Comer said the baby was "unscathed."

"The whole thing is a miracle, an explosion of tears, joy. I became ecstatic. My hands straight in the air," he told the AP. "I'm looking in the sky, jumping up and down, praising God."

Koah's great-aunt, Amber Hammond, told the AP that she went over to her sister's house on Monday to check on Comer and Koah and they were gone.

"We make no excuses for Michael at all. What he did is unjustified, horrible," she told the AP. "I'm just thankful that God looked out for that baby."

Koah was released from the hospital Tuesday night. He is with family members and is expected to make a full recovery, the sheriff said.