Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The sudden loss of a mother and then followed by a father the following day is the most devastating experience for the five children left behind,” said an emotional mother who goes to the same church with the late couple, at Mapusaga Fou.

The church member said she was on the same bus just last Tuesday morning with the mom, Dorothy and her children.

That was her daily responsibility while her husband, the late Ropeti goes to work, the church member said.

She said it hit her really hard when she was told that Dorothy had died and was taken to the hospital on the same Tuesday as a result of domestic violence, with her husband being the suspect.

“She was a very dedicated mother to her children and husband," said the church member.

Police were called to the scene and had arrested the husband as a suspect, on the same evening.

Chief of Police Pouu’amea Tuaolo Supapo was busy on Thursday when Samoa News followed up with the latest development on the father of the children, being the suspect.

However Ms Pouu’amea had told KVZK TV that the police are investigating the suspect’s death in jail, and preliminary investigations indicate that it was allegedly self-inflicted.

The church member who knew the late couple from their Sunday services said, it’s hard to believe what happened.

The late mother is from Samoa and as well as her late husband. Both have been residing with a sister’s family in Mapusaga Fou.

They will be missed by their Ward, the church member said. 

There has been no official mention of the cause of the domestic violence that took the life of the young mother — whether there was drug or alcohol use involved.

The tragedy has hit many in the community hard, and it’s alleged that a video was posted of the incident in a Facebook post.

A message to Gov. Lemanu P. S. Mauga from a person identified as a “young adult” was posted on Facebook and reads as follows:

“Dear governor,” he writes, “I hope you took the time to watch that video of that poor mother who was beaten to death by her husband and leaving her dead for the children to mourn their mom with her injuries.”

The young adult goes on to admonish the governor, his Drug Free Task Force, his Administration for not investing in areas that are needed in the community — drug abuse, mental health, domestic violence, etc.

He also admonishes DSHS (Dept. of Social Services) to “quit sitting on their high salaries and get out there and be a public servant don’t wait for people to come find you, go find your people…”

“I am forever advocating for a Drug Free American Samoa because I lost my beautiful family to drugs,” he posted.

He encourages “those mothers who feel like they can’t get away from abuse, I tell you it’s not easy but you can do it.

“Once a man lay their hands on you, that’s the time for you to walk, because next time you will be dead.”