Man Digs Up Uncle's Grave, Steals Bones, Demands Ransom from Family to Settle Gambling Debts

Vietnam: A 37-year-old man from northern Vietnam was arrested after desecrating his uncle’s grave and using the remains in a disturbing attempt to extort money from his family. The man, identified as Luu Thanh Nam, is accused of digging up part of his uncle’s grave in Thanh Hoa province on September 9, removing bones, and then demanding 5 billion Vietnamese dong ($203,000) to return them. The man reportedly resorted to the act to settle mounting gambling debts.

The Extortion Plot

The shocking incident came to light when Nam allegedly used a shovel to dig a 20cm hole in his uncle’s grave and removed some of the remains. He hid the bones nearby in a pile of rubbish before sending a threatening message to his cousin’s wife. The message demanded payment for the return of the remains and warned the family not to contact the authorities, threatening they would never recover the bones if they did.

Upon receiving the message, the family, deeply alarmed, inspected the grave and found the damage to the coffin cap. They immediately alerted the police, sparking an investigation into the incident.

The Arrest and Confession

Following a swift investigation, police identified Nam as the suspect. He later confessed to stealing the bones, citing overwhelming gambling debts as his motivation for the crime. Authorities recovered the remains and returned them to the family, allowing them to reinter the bones in accordance with local customs.

Nam was arrested on September 12 and faces charges of grave desecration and extortion. If convicted, he could face severe penalties, including up to seven years in prison for grave desecration and up to 20 years for extortion, depending on the severity of the crime and the amount of money involved.

Cultural Impact 

In Vietnam, tampering with graves is seen as a deeply disrespectful act, believed to disturb the peace of the deceased's soul and bring misfortune to the living. The family hopes that by reinterring the bones, they will restore peace to their late relative’s spirit.