Police in north-western China’s Shaanxi province rescued the paralyzed mother, known as Wang Mou, after the woman’s daughter-in-law reported her missing.
The 58-year-old son, known as Ma Mou, has been detained and faces an attempted murder charge, according to the police.
An investigation on the incident is underway.
Police in Jingbian County revealed that at 9am on Tuesday morning, the suspect’s partner Zhang Mou went to the Xinzhuang Police Station to report her husband had taken her mother-in-law out on a trolley around 8pm on May 2, but she had not returned.
She said he had told the family he had sent the pensioner, who cannot walk by herself, to visit relatives; but his wife became suspicious.
After bringing Ma in for questioning, investigators said he admitted dumping the elderly woman at an abandoned tomb in a forest south of Jingbian County.
After confirming the location, police immediately excavated the gravesite, and halfway through they heard a faint cry for help. They surprisingly found the paralyzed mother still alive after nearly three days without food or water.
Video shows the moment they pulled 79-year-old Wang Mou from the pit, still showing vital signs.
She was rushed to a hospital and is currently in a stable condition.
Her son now faces charges of intentional homicide.
Watch the video: Click