Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A woman appeared in the District Court this week on criminal charges including second-degree murder in relation to the death of a 48-year-old woman. 

Maryann Galo is held without bail. Galo is facing two counts of murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, criminally negligent homicide, and public peace disturbance.  

Court filings say that police received a call for assistance regarding a woman who was assaulted and sustained multiple stab wounds. The victim was transported to LBJ Medical Hospital by an EMS unit due to the severity of her injuries. 

Not long after it was confirmed that the woman died, and had suffered three puncture wounds. A Security Guard told police that around 10:00 PM someone was walking from the Taputimu public highway and was shouting and yelling profanities and she was later identified as the defendant. 

The Security alleged that not long after the victim followed the defendant who was talking to someone in a car, the victim pulled the defendantʻs hair and assaulted her. 

The witness said the two women crossed the road into an open field across and he observed the victim sitting on top of the suspect, physically attacking her. 

Minutes later, a bystander intervened and separated the victim from the suspect. The victim then walked back to the main road and verbally threatened to stab the suspect. Shortly after that, he saw the victim collapse on the ground.