Judge denies bond for father accused of burying infant son in pine grove
Michael Comer was held in Lexington County custody after his 11-month-old was found alive beneath the soil in a dog crate.
By Samuel Hayes ·
Magistrate Gary W. Reinhart denied bail on Thursday for a 25-year-old father charged with burying his toddler son alive in a rural South Carolina field.
Michael Comer has been charged with attempted murder, burglary, and unlawfully placing a child at risk. The infant, identified as Koah Sharp, was located after approximately 24 hours and was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday night. Sheriff Jay Koon stated that the boy is expected to make a full recovery.
Lead investigator Tyler Douglas told the court that Comer displayed no remorse for his actions and attempted to leave the state before his arrest. Reinhart appointed a public defender and scheduled the next hearing for December 10. Comer has remained in the Lexington County jail since Monday, the day his son was reported missing.
John Comer, the grandfather, hosted Michael and Koah at his home on Monday after Michael claimed he needed a place to stay. John Comer guided an Associated Press reporter to a neighbor's property, pointing out a small hole in the ground where searchers found the child. He described the boy's survival as a miracle, stating that God had to have been with the infant the entire time.
Court records indicate Michael Comer pleaded guilty to domestic violence in October and was sentenced to probation. In May, he allegedly pushed the boy's mother from behind while she held Koah, causing the baby to strike a clothes dryer. Dezarae Sharp, identified by family as the mother, has not responded to media inquiries. Sheriff Koon noted that the parents had prior difficulties and that children sometimes get caught in the middle of such situations.
In a 911 call released Thursday, Patricia Comer described her son as suffering from severe schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. She reported that he threatened suicide and asked for sleeping pills the night before. She also mentioned he made comments about taking the child to New York, which he could not do while on probation. John Comer disputed this assessment, saying his son appeared rational, calm, and attentive when he picked them up.
Dozens of first responders searched the area for the boy. Authorities eventually discovered freshly disturbed soil and heard crying from below. The sheriff said Koah likely survived due to cool temperatures and an air pocket formed by a towel wrapped around the crate. John Comer described the crate as a discarded item from his house and said he has little pity for his son. He noted that the boy is alive and that this outcome matters most.
