Image source: Getty Images
An 11-month-old child has been rescued in South Carolina, America. According to officials, the child was buried alive in a cage by his father.
According to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department, Koa Sharp had been missing since Monday. He was taken with him by his father Michael Comer (25 years old). Comer was arrested on theft charges on Monday evening, but his son was not with him at the time.
Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon told a press conference that the child was found Tuesday a short distance from his father's home. He was "buried alive" and his condition was extremely critical. It is believed that he was there for about 24 hours.
Coon said that the child has now been admitted to the hospital for treatment. He expressed hope that the child will make a complete recovery.
The police are still deciding what other charges should be leveled against the child's father.
The search for the child began on Monday, when his father took him away from his mother's house.
Sheriff Coon said Comer's mother was caring for the child. He left his son alone with the child for some time. Meanwhile, Comer suddenly left the place with the child.
Image source, Lexington County Sheriff's Department
Comer was seen going to many places, but the child was not with him at that time.
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He was later arrested in Lexington County. Even then Koa was not with him. The Sheriff said that after this a team of 100 police and fire department officials was sent to search for the child.
According to the sheriff, when officers asked Comer where his son was, he "didn't give much information."
Coon said rescuers searched for the child in the woods near Comer's home. There he saw “freshly dug soil” at some places. When they started digging there, they heard the sound of a child crying. The sheriff described this sound as "the most joyous sound."
Coon added, "After that everyone was trying to save him."
Coon said, "The cage that contained the child was probably about two feet (61 cm) long and two feet wide. I believe that when the cage was placed on the ground, there was at least a foot of soil on top of it."
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Regarding the child's parents' relationship, the sheriff said there were "obviously some problems."
According to court records, Comer had previously pleaded guilty to domestic violence charges.
Comer's mother, Patricia Comer, told NBC News that Koa's mother has full custody of the child, but she also kept an eye on the child while her son watched.
He said that his son had already taken care of the child without anyone's supervision and there was no problem then.
Patricia Comer said, "To be honest, I'm his mother and I never thought he would do something like this."
We used AI to translate this article, which was originally written in English. A BBC journalist checked this translation before publication. Learn more about how we're using AI.
Published by Collective Newsroom for the BBC.
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