Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A mother of three that authorities allege was beaten into a coma by her husband inside their home in Nu’uuli last Thursday morning has died, and the government will pursue a murder charge against the suspect.

Sources told Samoa News that the victim of the domestic violence was rushed to the hospital immediately after the alleged beating around 6:30a.m on Thursday morning, Mar. 19, 2020. She was pronounced dead around 10:30a.m on the following morning, Friday, Mar. 20.

It is alleged that the husband struck the victim’s head with a hammer before he tried to burn her alive. He also allegedly tried to burn their house down.

The suspect was arrested at the crime scene and taken into the Tafuna Police Substation for questioning. He was later booked at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) for 48 hours.

A source told Samoa News that the suspect was served with a copy of the arrest warrant at the TCF before the 48 hours expired last Saturday morning. The suspect is expected to appear in District Court this morning for his initial appearance.

The source said that the case was reported to police by a young male, who heard the victim screaming from inside the house for help. The young man, who is a close relative of the victim rushed to the road and asked two police officers who were controlling the traffic for help.

The two officers, the young male and the victim’s brother were immediately at the scene and they were able to offer immediate assistance to the victim in an effort to save her life. The victim was unresponsive when she was transported to the LBJ Hospital for further assistance.

The source told Samoa News that it was between 6:00 to 6:30 on Thursday morning when the suspect allegedly went to the house to confront his wife. The man arrived at their house and discovered his wife getting ready for work.

That is when the alleged incident took place inside the room when the suspect assaulted his wife by using a hammer to strike her head until she was unconscious. The suspect then used a gas tank to burn his wife and at the same time attempted to burn the house down.

During the alleged assault the victim was screaming out loud for help.

The source said that the victim’s brother was inside the house, however, he did not hear his sister’s initial screams for help because he was taking a shower at the time. It was after the brother had taken his shower that he heard his sister screaming.

The brother ran to his sister’s room to help and at the same time, police officers and the victim’s male relatives also arrived offering help.

Samoa News will report on the update of this matter after the suspect appears in court for his initial appearance this morning.

A GRIEVING FAMILY

Family members and friends rushed to the hospital when they heard the news that the victim was pronounced dead.

The victim, as one of her close relatives described her, was a loving and caring mother to her children. A friend that everyone adores and loves. She was a great wife and a beautiful daughter. A woman with a gentle touch and soft whispers to sooth any heartache.

A close friend said that the victim was everyone's friend. She was a daughter. A coworker. A member of a church and most importantly, a wife and a mother.