A Washington state man, Chae Kyong An, 54, has been sentenced to over 13 years in prison and three months of supervised community custody for kidnapping his estranged wife and attempting to bury her alive with the intent to commit second-degree murder.

During the sentencing hearing, the victim, who had previously obtained a domestic violence protection order against An, courageously addressed the court. “With courage, I must tell my story,” she said. “It is painful to talk about what I have been through.”

On October 16, 2022, An kidnapped his estranged wife from her Lacey home. He bound her in duct tape, even covering her eyes. However, she managed to use her Apple Watch to send an emergency notification to trusted contacts.

Responding officers found the garage door open and used duct tape in the residence. They cleared the home but found no one.

An dragged the woman into the woods, stabbed her, and buried her in a hole. She believed she was buried for hours, but she managed to escape.

The next day, the victim sought help from a resident on Stedman Road SE. “My husband is trying to kill me,” she told a deputy. “Help me.” She had walked approximately 20-30 minutes to the home.

An’s vehicle was later found in the woods by a person walking on a trail. Deputies and police officers responded and apprehended An.

Thurston County prosecutors praised the victim’s bravery and noted the severity of the crime. The court sentenced An to a prison term of over 13 years, followed by supervised community custody. CONTINUE READING