- Caroline Sinaviana-Gabbard, 78, was found dead in her native Samoa
- His author protégé Papalii Sia Figiel, 57, was charged with his murder.
- He allegedly killed her in an argument and then waited until the next day to turn himself in.
The aunt of Donald Trump’s potential running mate, Tulsi Gabbard, was beaten and stabbed to death, allegedly by her protégé.
Caroline Sinaviana-Gabbard, 78, was found dead in the home of prominent Samoan author and playwright Papalii Sia Figiel, 57, on the Pacific island.
Samoa Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo said Sinaviana-Gabbard was murdered last Saturday and her alleged killer surrendered the following morning.
The couple, who were close friends, had an argument at their home in the village of Vaivase-Uta, about a 10-minute drive from Apia, Samoa’s capital.
The aunt of Donald Trump’s potential running mate Tulsi Gabbard (pictured) was beaten and stabbed to death.
Caroline Sinaviana-Gabbard, 78, was found dead in the village of Vaivase-Uta, about a 10-minute drive from Apia, the capital of Samoa.
It is not yet known what sparked the fight, but Figiel allegedly used a knife and hammer to kill her, both of which were found at the scene.
Figiel then allegedly left the body lying around his house and drove about an hour to a friend’s house in the town of Lotofaga and spent the night.
“It wasn’t until Sunday morning, while they were having breakfast, that (Figiel) told her friend what had happened,” Auapaau said.
Figiel soon after surrendered to police in Apia and was arrested and charged with manslaughter, which was upgraded to murder after more evidence was found.
Sinaviana-Gabbard was a renowned author and poet, whose first novel Where We Once Belong was a bestseller.
She taught Pacific literature at the University of Hawaii for more than 20 years and was the first Samoan to become a full professor in the United States.
After his retirement, Sinaviana-Gabbard returned to his native Samoa.
Prominent Samoan author and playwright Papalii Sia Figiel, 57, was charged with murder after a knife and hammer were found at the scene.
Her brother, Tulsi Gabbard’s father, Mike Gabbard, is a Hawaii state senator and mourned the death of his “best friend.”
‘She helped me a lot during my rebellious teenage years. She got me hooked on reading,” she told Spectrum News.
“I love her deeply and wish her the best as she continues her journey.”
Senator Gabbard said he hoped his sister’s killer “will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
Tulsi Gabbard, a former congresswoman from Hawaii, had a short-lived presidential campaign and is a possible running mate for Trump.