By Aaron Miller-
Washington state woman was stabbed, then buried alive by her estranged husband — but she managed to survive the terrifying ordeal by squirming around the shallow grave for hours to keep the dirt off her face.
“She was drug and put into the ground. … A heavy tree was put on top of her. After being put into the ground she could hear her husband walking around the hole and dirt being put on top of her,” the court document cited by NBC News says.
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Young said she managed to breathe by squirming to keep the dirt from suffocating her as she lay in the shallow grave for several hours before finally succeeding in tearing off the tape.
Young’s hours-long nightmare began Sunday afternoon, when her husband, Chae Kyong An, 53, allegedly attacked her in her home during a fight about their divorce and finances, she told cops.
She said she managed to call 911 with her Apple Watch and sent a notification to her emergency contacts when he left the bedroom after duct-taping her, according to NBC News.
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Chae then allegedly dragged her into the garage, where he broke her watch with a hammer and drove off with her, according to officials.
The woman — who has a domestic violence protection order against her estranged husband — told investigators she heard him digging in the dirt before he stabbed her in her chest.
A Thurston County sheriff’s deputy responded about 1 a.m. Monday to a home in Lacey, about 60 miles southwest of Seattle, where Young An, 42, banged on the door pleading for help because her husband was trying to kill her, police said in a release.
“My husband is trying to kill me!” she screamed, according to a declaration of probable cause cited by NBC News.
“She had duct tape still wrapped around her neck, lower face and ankles,” the document said. “There was extensive bruising to her legs, arms and head and her clothing and hair were covered in dirt.”
She ran for about 30 minutes and found the home where she was saved just before 1 a.m. Monday.
The woman told police her husband had threatened her before, telling her that he would “rather kill her than give her his retirement money,” the probable cause statement said.
Police later found the shallow grave in the woods west of Rainier Road and south of Stedman Road near Lacey, KING 5 reported.
The couple were reportedly arguing about money when the alleged attack occurred.
The fight about money escalated and Chae Kyong allegedly told his wife he would ‘rather die’ than give her any of his ‘retirement money’.After allegedly attacking her in her bedroom, the husband tied Young Sook up with duct tape, before driving her away from their home into the woods. He then started digging a hole, stabbed her and placed her in the ground, as per probable cause documents.
The documents read: “Chea told her she was going to die. She was so scared.
“After being put in the ground she could hear her husband walking around the hole and dirt being put on top of her.”
Thankfully, as a result of wearing her Apple Watch, Young Sook was able to alert her daughter and best friend, as well as call emergency services just before she was dragged into Chae Kyong’s 2006 Dodge Caravan.
Chae Kyong allegedly smashed the apple watch before bundling her into the vehicle and taking her to the woods.
After being left in the woods by her husband, Young Sook took her life into her own hands and broke free when night fell.
She ran for around 30 minutes and found a hiding place in someone’s shed.
The hole Young Sook claims she was buried in was later discovered by investigators.
Chae faces recommended charges of first-degree attempted murder, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree assault.Lacey Police Department
The mother also had ‘duct tape still wrapped around her neck, lower face and ankles,’ as per a Thurston County Superior Court filing.
“There was also extensive bruising to her legs, arms and head and her clothing and hair were covered in dirt,” it reads.
Young Sook was able to alert her daughter, best friend and emergency services via her Apple Watch. Credit: Lacey Police Department
Young Sook was able to alert her daughter, best friend and emergency services via her Apple Watch. Credit: Lacey Police Department
Chae Young has been arrested, but not yet officially charged. He faces charges of first-degree assault, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree attempted murder.
Young Sook asked for a message to be read in front of the judge, the note states: “Please no bail. I am really afraid for my life.
“I just what to emphasis I fear him so much and eh will kill me again if he’s out.
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