Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On November 5, 2024, a concerned neighbor contacted the police station to report an alleged domestic violence incident.

The suspect, a 29-year-old female, was arrested for assaulting her boyfriend and later charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 5 years, a fine of $5,000 but not less than $150, or both; and,

Count 2: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $20,000.

According to the affidavit, the investigation disclosed that on November 5th, Theresalani Ulberg assaulted her boyfriend in their home.

Ulberg used a frying pan to strike the victim’s head 5 times while hot oil was inside the frying pan. It was reported that the victim’s head was swollen on the right side. When the victim walked away from the suspect, the suspect pulled back the victim’s hair and punched him numerous times which resulted in a nosebleed.

Moreover, the suspect also used a kitchen knife (flat side of the knife) to hit the victim on his back from behind. Luckily, the victim was able to remove the kitchen knife. The suspect then grabbed the machete inside the kitchen and attempted to hit the suspect however, the victim was also able to remove the machete from the suspect. The victim also scratched the suspect’s body.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival at the scene, they met with an unknown female who identified herself as the reporter/neighbor and directed the officers to the house where the incident occurred. The officers were told by the reporter that the female individual whose name is Theresalane Ulberg was inside the house with her boyfriend.

The officers proceeded to the house where they were greeted by an unknown male who identified himself as the victim. The victim led the officers to where the suspect was sitting inside the kitchen. The officers observed blood on the suspect’s hand and the victim had minor scratches on his body and his nose was bleeding.

The officers didn’t see any kitchen knife or machete inside the kitchen as stated by the victim. The victim told the officers he doesn’t know who removed the kitchen knife and machete from the kitchen. Efforts to locate the knife and machete were unsuccessful.

The EMS was requested to meet at the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to treat both the victim and suspect.

According to the reporter’s verbal statement in the field, she heard her niece (suspect) and her boyfriend arguing from inside their home. She then called out to the suspect to lower her voice and that she’s disturbing the peace. The reporter claimed that the suspect yelled back and cursed at her and told her it’s none of her business. When she called the suspect’s name the second time she responded back the same way. At that time, she (aunt) contacted the police for assistance.

Both victim and suspect were transported to the TPS in separate units for further investigation.

The suspect was Mirandized and agreed to make a statement.

According to the suspect, she was upset when her boyfriend teased her about sitting around the house and not cooking any food. Ulberg verbally stated that she grabbed the frying pan from the stove while hot oil was inside and struck her boyfriend’s head 5 times. She also stated that she can’t recall what she was grabbing from the kitchen to hit her boyfriend. Ulberg claimed that “she has hypertension and that sometimes she can’t control her temper when she’s upset.”

EMS arrived later and treated both the suspect and victim. The victim also requested to be taken to the hospital due to a severe headache.

During the victim’s interview before being transported to the hospital, he verbally stated that Ulberg was upset at him about preparing dinner. He explained that he was shocked when the suspect hit him with the frying pan, pulled his hair from the back and punched his face numerous times to a point his nose bled. He stated he tried to stop the suspect but she was out of control. He also claimed that this is not the first time that Ulberg assaulted him in their house.

The suspect was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 29-year-old U.S National.