Tulsi Gabbard's aunt repeatedly stabbed and beaten to death by her protégé in Samoa

In a shocking development, the aunt of former Hawaiian Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard was found murdered in a Samoa home last month. Caroline Sinaviana-Gabbard, 78, was stabbed multiple times and beaten to death with a hammer during a fight with her protégé Papalii Sia Figiel on May 25. The incident took place at Figiel's home, at a time when the two women were alone. Caroline is believed to have been a mentor to the award-winning Samoa-based author.

Following the gruesome murder, Figiel reportedly fled to a friend's house and later turned himself in to the police. Police charged her with murder following a preliminary investigation.

Local media quoted Samoa Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo as saying: “A hammer was allegedly used as well as a small knife which allegedly inflicted multiple stab wounds on the deceased. »

It is unclear what exactly caused the deadly fight between the two women.

“We don't know what the motive for the offense is, but according to reports, the incident happened on Saturday and the suspect left the victim at her house while she went to Lotofaga and spent time with a friend,” added Filipo.

For nearly twenty years, Sinavaiana-Gabbard was a teacher of creative writing and Pacific literature at the school.

According to her family, she was a talented writer, educator, and environmental activist, and she was the first Samoan to hold a tenured professorship in the United States.

She was the older sister of Hawaii State Senator Mike Gabbard, Tulsi's father.

“Caroline was my best friend when I was a teenager,” Mike Gabbard told Spectrum News.

“She helped me considerably during my rebellious teenage period. She got me addicted to reading, so much so that I followed in her footsteps and majored in English at Sonoma State University in California, then returned to our birthplace, American Samoa, where I I taught English in high schools and was a member of the faculty, guidance. advisor and dean of the community college for many years,” he added.

(With contribution from agencies)