Muffled cries for help can be heard in the released 911 call of a woman who was buried alive in Washington last month.
Young An, 42, was attacked by her husband, Chae Kyong An,53, in her home on October 16 after they spoke about their ongoing divorce and financial issues.
Chae reportedly punched Young multiple times before binding her eyes, hands, and body with duct tape. According to Young, after binding her, Chae took her apple watch and smashed it with a hammer. However, before Chae could do anything more, Young managed to contact 911 and send a notification to her emergency contacts using her Apple Watch when he left her bedroom.
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,” the dispatcher says in the recording.
According to reports, Chae then 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 shallow grave. She managed to keep dirt off her face by wiggling around as she lay in the grave for hours. After tearing off the duct tape, she ran for about 30 minutes until she found a house to plead for help.
Police responded to a home in Lacey at about 1 a.m. on Monday, where they found Young pleading for help, according to a declaration of probable cause filed on Wednesday in Thurston County’s superior court.
Young reportedly shouted, “My husband is trying to kill me! Help me!” after a sheriff’s deputy arrived.
On Nov. 1, Chae pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree attempted murder, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree domestic violence assault. He was booked into Thurston County Jail, where he is being held without bail. Chae is scheduled back in court on Nov. 16.
