Cries for help can be heard in a released 911 call of a woman who was buried alive by her husband in Washington State.
Young An, 42, was assaulted by her husband, Chae Kyong An,53, in her home while they were discussing their ongoing divorce and financial issues.
Allegedly, Chae became angry about giving up some of his retirement money and punched Young multiple times before wrapping her eyes, hands, and body in duct tape.
According to Young, after binding her, Chae took her apple watch and smashed it with a hammer. However, when Chae left her bedroom, Young managed to contact 911 and send a notification to her emergency contacts using her Apple Watch.
The distressing call recorded sounds of Young screaming and sobbing. Although she was bound and gagged and unable to articulate words, the dispatcher was able to send officers to the home.
“I’m gonna get help started for you – hold on for a second,” you can hear the dispatcher say in the recording.
According to reports, Chae came back into the room and dragged Young into the garage before loading her into a van and driving into the woods to bury her.
Young told police that Chae stabbed her in the chest and placed her in a grave. Young managed to keep dirt off her face by wiggling around as she lay in the grave for hours. After finally being able to tear off the duct tape, she ran for about 30 minutes until she found a house that helped her call the police.
Police responded to a home in Lacey at about 1 a.m., where they found Young crying for help, according to a declaration of probable cause filed on Wednesday in Thurston County’s superior court.
Young was reportedly yelling, “My husband is trying to kill me! Help me!” after a sheriff’s deputy arrived.
According to a court filing, “She had duct tape still wrapped around her neck, lower face, and ankles,” the filing read. “There was extensive bruising to her legs, arms, and head and her clothing and hair were covered in dirt.”
A probable cause document allegedly read, “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.”
On Nov. 1, Chae pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree attempted murder, first-degree kidnapping, and first-degree domestic violence assault. Chae is being held without bail at the Thurston County Jail. Chae is scheduled back in court on Nov. 16.
