Korean-American man sentenced to 13 years for attempting to bury his wife alive

A Korean-American man who attempted to bury his estranged wife alive in October 2022 has been sentenced to 13 years in prison.

A court in Thurston County, Washington, sentenced Chae Kyong An, 55, to 13 years in prison and three years in community custody on April 22 after he pleaded guilty to a second-degree attempted murder charge in early March.

According to local law enforcement, on October 16, 2022, An went to his home in Lacey, a city south of Seattle, and confronted his estranged wife over divorce and financial issues. During their argument, An attacked her.

Soon after, he allegedly tied her hands and feet, gagged her, put her in his car, and drove her to a nearby forest about seven miles away. He dug a 19-inch-deep hole in the woods and pushed her into it in an attempt to bury her alive. He then covered the hole with soil and branches.

After being buried in the hole for nearly 12 hours, his wife managed to free herself while An was in the car. She removed the tape binding her hands and feet and escaped the hole. She then fled to a nearby house, where she called for help from a resident. Police arrested An the same day.

Local news station KING 5 reported An’s court hearing on April 22.

Before the sentencing, the victim said, “After that day, I and my children’s life was crushed. I have to live my life with emotional trauma and health issues for the rest of my life.”

She recalled the incident she did not want to remember. The victim and the prosecution asked the judge to sentence An to the higher end of the standard sentencing range, which the defense agreed to upon reaching a plea deal.

An’s defense attorney argued that his client committed the crime while suffering from mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), homelessness, and isolation from family and friends. “I wish that I could go back and never enter that house that day and walk away,” An said.

At the sentencing hearing, the judge imposed the maximum sentence allowed under Washington’s sentencing guidelines. “The crime you pled guilty to was horrific,” the judge said, addressing An in court. “Preventing somebody from calling for help, assaulting, restraining, and burying her alive. With the plea deal you accepted, you acknowledged responsibility for that.”

The judge also praised the bravery of the victim and urged her to focus on her emotional healing and mental health treatment.

BY HYOUNGJAE KIM, JUNHAN PARK    [kim.ian@koreadaily.com]