A 30-year-old Samoan woman in the U.S. State of California was beaten and stabbed to death by her partner last weekend.

The mother with roots in Matautu Falealili was allegedly stabbed in Salinas, California on Sunday afternoon and has been identified as Eleni Tavau, states a statement issued by the Salinas Police Department.

Salinas Police also confirmed that the victim's partner, Rodrigo Bravo, 32, turned himself in and has been slapped with multiple charges. This includes first-degree murder, child cruelty, domestic violence, violation of parole, and violating a domestic violence restraining order, per the Monterey County Jail. His bail has been set at USD$1,020,000 [SAT$2.7 million].

According to the Salinas Police, officers responded to a stabbing victim and found her with multiple stab wounds who was also unresponsive when they arrived. Officers rendered medical aid to the victim before she was taken to the hospital in grave condition and later died of her injuries.

The victim's two toddler-aged children were also present at the time law enforcement officers arrived, while the accused turned himself in at the Salinas Police Department two hours after the alleged stabbing happened. Bravo is also the father of the victim's children. 

Condolence messages and tributes from the victim's family and friends were uploaded to social media on Tuesday evening, with many calling for justice for the victim. The distraught uncle of the victim, Tavau Junior Misikau also did a Facebook Live on Tuesday evening, to respond to questions he received from their relatives on why his daughter passed away. 

Currently, a resident of New Zealand, Misikau claimed he raised the victim since she was a baby and felt compelled to set the record that she didn't take her own life. 

"I treated and loved her as my own," Misikau said. "She called me dad as well and had asked me so many times asking me to come over to America. 

"But I asked her to bring her kids to come and visit me. I should've gone when she asked me to come. It's a difficult pill to swallow. I don't know how to feel right now. Whether I should be mad or seek revenge. But as Christians, I think it's best that we forgive. 

"She is my older brother's daughter but I raised her since she was a child. A dark cloud has covered our family and our hearts are shattered. We called her Emi and she was loved by a lot of people. I used to carry her on my back to school and would wait for her to finish school."

Recalling the victim's childhood days, Misikau said they are still trying to come to terms with the fact that "Emi" has gone and her passing was abrupt and violent. 

"She did not deserve to go the way she did; no one deserves that and it's really hard for us to accept what happened because it's just unbelievable. She loved her kids with all her heart. 

"I'm sure she fought to stay alive for them but could not hold on. It's like we've been stabbed right in the heart. It really hurts."

Misikau also used the opportunity to remind young Samoan girls to "choose their partners" wisely and to avoid men who are abusive.  

"Don't settle or go for someone who is abusive. That is not okay. We don't want another family to go through the tragedy that has hit our family. Continue to pray for us, we need it. We are praying to God to comfort us and give us the strength to cope with this."