Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 26, 2026, Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) received a call from a woman alleging that her husband threatened to beat her up. 

The suspect was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine not to exceed $300, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (a class C misd.) (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine not to exceed $300, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

According to the affidavit, the victim told police that she had left her residence earlier that morning with her daughter to attend church activities. While she was away, her husband allegedly called her and ordered her to return home.

The woman reportedly told police that during the call, her husband threatened to harm and beat her if she did not return home.

She also reported that the alleged threats and physical abuse were not an isolated incident. According to her statement, her husband had repeatedly beaten her in the past, including in front of their children.

When she returned home with her children, the woman reportedly did not want to enter the residence because she was afraid of what her husband might do to her.

After contacting police for assistance, she eventually went inside and reportedly saw her husband sitting on the bed.

The woman told investigators that while she was sitting on the bed, her husband aggressively grabbed her by the hair and began cutting her hair with a sharp stainless-steel knife.

She reportedly stated that he was yelling profanities at her during the incident and threatened her while holding the knife.The suspect told police that her husband made a threatening statement while cutting her hair, causing her to fear for her safety.

She further told investigators that she and her children were afraid for their lives and no longer felt safe living with him.

Daughter Provides Statement

Police also interviewed the couple's teenage daughter, with the assistance and in the presence of her mother.

According to the daughter's statement, her father had become angry the previous day and told her to return home to take care of him because he was sick.

She reportedly stated that on the day of the incident, her father continued calling her mother and told her not to return home. He allegedly instructed her mother to go to Nuuuli, where her family was located.

The daughter reportedly told investigators that her father had also threatened to cut her mother's hair if she returned home.

According to her statement, when the family returned home, the defendant allegedly followed through with the threat and cut his wife's hair.

The daughter reportedly told police that similar incidents occurred whenever her father became angry with her mother or when something upset him.

She also alleged that the defendant had beaten her mother on other occasions.

Defendant Arrested

After obtaining statements from the victims, police approached the room where the defendant was located.

Police officers observed the defendant sitting on the bed. He subsequently stood up and walked toward the officers.

The defendant was identified as Talelei Lili’i and was taken into custody.

He was transported to the FPS for further investigation. Upon arrival, Lili’i was Mirandized where he acknowledged that he understood his rights but declined to provide a statement to investigators.

Lili’i was subsequently booked and confined before being transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility, where he was held pending the next available sitting of the District Court.

Later that evening, police returned to the residence and recovered a stainless-steel knife that was allegedly used during the incident.

The knife was identified as the ‘scissors’ allegedly used by the defendant to cut the victim's hair.

The defendant is identified as a 45-year-old citizen of Samoa.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on July 27, 2026.

As with all criminal cases, the allegations outlined in court filings remain accusations at this stage, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision.]