- Caroline Sinaviana-Gabbard, 78, was found dead in her native Samoa
- Her author protégé Papalii Sia Figiel, 57, was charged with murder
- She reportedly killed her during an argument and then waited until the next day to turn herself in
The aunt of Donald Trump’s potential running mate, Tulsi Gabbard, has been beaten and stabbed to death, allegedly by her protégé.
Caroline Sinaviana-Gabbard, 78, was found dead at the home of prominent Samoan author and playwright Papalii Sia Figiel, 57, on the Pacific island.
Samoan Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo said Sinaviana-Gabbard was killed last Saturday and her alleged killer turned himself in the next morning.
The pair, who were close friends, got into an argument at the house in the village of Vaivase-Uta – about a 10-minute drive from the Samoan capital Apia.
The potential aunt of Donald Trump running mate Tulsi Gabbard (photo) has been beaten and stabbed to death
Caroline Sinaviana-Gabbard, 78, was found dead in the village of Vaivase-Uta – about a 10-minute drive from the Samoan capital Apia
It was not yet known what sparked the fight, but Figiel is said to have used a knife and a hammer to kill her – both of which were found at the scene.
Figiel then allegedly left the body in her house and drove about an hour to a friend’s house in the village of Lotofaga and spent the night there.
‘That didn’t happen until Sunday morning, when they were having breakfast [Figiel] told her friend what happened,” Auapaau said.
Figiel turned himself in to police in Apia shortly afterwards and was arrested and charged with manslaughter, which was upgraded to murder after more evidence was found.
Sinaviana-Gabbard was herself a renowned author and poet, whose debut novel Where We Once Belonged was a bestseller.
She taught Pacific literature at the University of Hawaii for more than twenty years and was the first Samoan to become a professor in the US.
After her retirement, Sinaviana-Gabbard returned to her 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 senator for Hawaii and mourned the death of his “best friend.”
‘She helped me enormously during my rebellious phase of adolescence. She got me hooked on reading,” he told Spectrum News.
“I love her very much and wish her the best as she continues her journey.”
Senator Gabbard said he hoped his sister’s killer “will be punished to the full extent of the law.”
Tulsi Gabbard, a former Hawaii congresswoman, had a short-lived presidential campaign and is a potential running mate for Trump.