One of my worst fears is being buried alive. However, I always figured that situation was more likely in movies than in real life. Until this.
A middle aged man named Ma Mou was put in custody in 2020 after authorities say he buried his paralyzed mother. Oddly enough, the person who first reported the crime was Ma's wife, Zhang. She rang the police station in Jingbian County, China, after Ma went out with his mother but didn't return with her. It's a good thing that Zhang took action so quickly. It's unclear as to whether or not his mother would have survived if Zhang hadn't acted as fast as she did.
The mother, who was identified as Wang, was 79 years old at the time. She was reportedly in a grave pit for three days before authorities found and rescued her. Her retrieval was caught on video. According to the tape, police officers pulled her out by her feet. She was still showing vital signs of life and had called for help when the police were nearby.
The story is terrifying but leaves so many questions. What could have possibly happened to cause her son to do this?
It seems as if Zhang had no trouble calling the cops on her partner. The fact that she had some suspicion as to his story makes it seem as if she had a hint that his relationship with his mother might not have been on the best terms. Ma's alleged actions were truly cruel, as his mother wasn't able to walk on her own.
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When she was eventually found, she was reportedly covered in mud. That means it's possible that Ma tried hard to bury her. But perhaps he figured that he did enough, given the situation. Based on the video clip, the abandoned pit looks pretty deep.
It's also tough to say what Ma and Zhang's relationship may be like after this. Usually when you have to call the police on your significant other for attempted murder, things don't recover. Zhang has seen a side of Ma that's absolutely frightening. If he had the capacity to bury his own mother alive, what else is he capable of?
MeAww reports that right after rescue, Wang was covered in a blanket and sent to the hospital for observations. As of right now, the reports look good. She's in stable condition and physically recovering from the traumatic event. Based on her positioning in the pit, it's possible her son Ma figured it was unlikely for her to escape and make it out alive.
Zhang told police that she last saw her mother-in-law on May 2. At around 8 p.m., Ma had taken his mother, put her in a pushcart, and wheeled her out of the home that they reportedly share. Zhang had a right to be worried when her mother-in-law didn't return.
Even more suspicious? When Ma returned back home, he had the pushcart with him. But it was empty. Since Wang couldn't walk, it made no sense for her to be without it. Ma reportedly told his wife that Wang was visiting other family members at the time, but the story didn't make sense.
Police reportedly contacted Ma after Zhang's call. They report that it didn't take long for him to confess what he did. He reportedly gave them the location as to where Wang was buried. The crew then wasted no time finding her and rescuing her. Curious about what led Ma to commit such a heinous act?
Supposedly, Ma told the police that Wang was incontinent. She was having accidents in their shared home, and he said that the smell was causing him "great psychological pressure." This is a situation that many people may be able to imagine, but his solution was completely out of control. While nobody knows the financial situation of Ma and Zhang, surely hiring a helper would be easier than murdering your mother and facing severe criminal charges.
Wang was officially without food or water for three days. "The details of the case itself aren’t complicated," said Yang Lijun, director of the Jingbian County Public Security Bureau. "What’s hard to fathom is the suspect’s apparent loss of humanity. His violation of morals and ethics is unacceptable."
We've all been in a situation where we're on our last nerve with a family member. But Ma's solution was simply cruel. It would be interesting to hear about any words exchanged between the two of them prior to the incident happening. And after she was rescued, was Ma apologetic over his actions? Was he mentally unstable when this all took place?
Wang has two sons, and she reportedly lived with the other for a long time. However, he had to leave the area due to work, so Wang started living with Ma. It's unclear if Wang will continue to live with Ma's wife after all of this, but she'll definitely need to be in a stable environment.
While Ma should be held responsible for the actions he took, you wonder whether or not he was having mental issues due to the situation. If there had been intervention and help before this situation came to a head, maybe he wouldn't have snapped. It's another reminder of how mental health matters.
While Wang was rescued, she was very lucky. Medical News Today states that on average, a person can survive without food for well over a week. But they'd only be able to survive without water for three days. If this investigation lasted any longer, she may have died from dehydration.
It's also a good reminder to check in with your friends and loved ones. Living with a relative can be challenging, but even more with stay-at-home orders in place. Those who take on the role of caregiver now have a lot more to worry about. If you feel like you're having dark thoughts, help is available — even while at home.
