Tulsi Gabbard’s Aunt Stabbed Multiple Times, Beaten to Death With Hammer By Prominent Author: Report
By
Social Links forNicholas McEntyre
Published June 1, 2024
Updated June 2, 2024, 9:30 a.m. ET
The aunt of ex-Democratic Hawaiian Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard was stabbed multiple times and beaten with a hammer during a fight with her protege in Samoa last month, according to a report.
Dr. Caroline Sinaviana-Gabbard, 78, was found dead on May 25 inside award-winning Samoan playwright Papalii Sia Figiel’s home in Vaivase-Uta, according to Spectrum News.
The two women reportedly were alone inside Figiel’s home which doubles as the community’s local theater named GaluMoana Theater, when the deadly confrontation took place.
Sinaviana-Gabbard is believed to have been Figiel’s mentor.
Caroline Sinaviana-Gabbard was stabbed multiple times and clobbered with a hammer.FOX News
Figiel reportedly fled to a friend’s house following the brutal attack and turned herself over to the police.
Hawaii state Senator Mike Gabbard says he was very close with his sister growing up and proud of her accomplishments.
Senator Mike Gabbard/Facebook
Sinavaiana-Gabbard taught creative writing and Pacific literature during her nearly two-decade tenure at the school.
Her family says she was the first Samoan to become a full professor in the US, and was an accomplished writer, teacher and environmental activist.
Tulsi Gabbard served four terms in Congress serving Hawaii’s second district, and was the first Samoa-American to become a voting member of Congress.
The deadly incident took place on May 25 at Figiel’s home in the village of Vaivase-Uta, about three miles from the capital city of Apia, pictured.virsuziglis
In April, Gabbard, who left the Democratic Party in 2022, revealed she turned down an offer to serve as independent presidential hopeful Robert F Kennedy’s running mate.
Figiel’s work is published in New Zealand and has won the Best First Book award in the South East Asia/ South Pacific region of the Commonwealth Writers Prize in 1997.
Following her arrest, Figiel was transferred from Tanumalala Prison to the National Hospital in Motootua where she was placed on 24-hour suicide watch, a close friend told KHJ News.
Figiel is expected to appear in front of the Supreme Court of Samoa on June 10.