Tulsi Gabbard breaks her silence in emotional post on her aunt’s ‘horrific death’ after 78-year-old was brutally murdered with a hammer by ‘friend she mentored’

Potential Donald Trump running size Tulsi Gabbard has broken her silence on the ‘tragic murder’ of her aunt, allegedly at the hands of a close friend she was mentoring.

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 Republican congressman said in a message to

“I am so grateful to be surrounded by your love and prayers. My Aunt Caroline was my father’s only sister, and the only relative of ours who lived in the house Hawaii when I was growing up.

Caroline Sinaviana-Gabbard, 78, (pictured, far left) was found dead in the home of a prominent Samoan author and playwright

Caroline Sinaviana-Gabbard, 78, was found dead in the village of Vaivase-Uta – about a 10-minute drive from the Samoan capital Apia

“As a child, I spent a lot of time with her at her cottage in the back of the Manoa Valley, where she often shared her poetry with me and encouraged me to pursue my own writing.

“The news of her horrific death sent shockwaves through our family. We miss her, cherish the wonderful memories we shared and remember her in our prayers.

‘Life is short. Keep those you love close, and make the most of every day we are blessed with life.”

Although it is currently unknown what sparked the fight, Figiel reportedly used a knife and a hammer to kill her mentor – 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

The potential aunt of Donald Trump running mate Tulsi Gabbard (photo) has been beaten and stabbed to death

Prominent Samoan author and playwright Papalii Sia Figiel, 57, was charged with murder after a knife and hammer were found at the scene

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.

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.”