US: The two thieves cut his throat from ear to ear, shot his 12-year-old son dead and buried both in a common grave. But 54-year-old Mr Forrest "Butch" Bowyer was not dead, writes Patrick Smyth from Washington.
Bleeding profusely, he dug himself out of the grave, scrambled to a nearby road and stopped a car. This enabled him to summon an ambulance and the police and to name one of his two attackers.
While Mr Bowyer, from Phoenix City, Alabama, underwent emergency surgery, a local bounty hunter, Mr Michael David Carruth (43), and Mr Jimmy Lee Brooks Jr, were charged with capital murder, attempted murder, robbery and kidnapping.
The local sheriff, Mr Tommy Boswell, says Mr Bowyer, a used car seller, was targeted on a Sunday night because he was believed to keep cash at home.
The two men are alleged to have forced Mr Bowyer and his son, Brett, into a car and driven about 20 miles outside town.
After he gave them money, the men slit his throat and shoved him into a grave about 18 inches deep, Mr Boswell said.
Minutes later, Mr Bowyer, playing dead, heard gunshots, and his son's body was pushed on top of him.
The killers covered the grave with earth.
He began digging his way out as soon as they left. Then he unearthed his son's body and walked about quarter of a mile through woods to flag down a car.
Mr Bowyer gave police a description of the men's car, which was stopped with Mr Carruth at the wheel early on Monday. Mr Bowyer recognised the other man from seeing him around town and told the police his name, Mr Boswell said.
Sheriff Boswell said: "Mr Bowyer dug himself out of his own grave. Physically he's doing all right, but mentally he's having trouble dealing with the loss of his son."
Police said the suspects claimed to be police officers when they went to Mr Bowyer's house on Monday.
Mr Carruth and Mr Brooks could face the death penalty if convicted.