A man accused of stabbing his ex to death in front of their toddler children has been seized by police after handing himself in.
Mum-of-three Eleni Tavau died in hospital on 25th June after the savage attack at her home in Salinas, in Monterey County, in the US state of California.
Her ex Rodrigo Bravo, 32, has a history of violence against her and Eleni had an active restraining order against him, the police said.
Police found 30-year-old Eleni unconscious with multiple stab wounds with two of her three children, both toddlers, in the family home and said to have witnessed the stabbing.
Bravo handed himself in to the police a short while later.
Newsflash obtained a statement from the Salinas Police Department on 27th June, saying: “On Sunday, June 25, 2023, at approximately 3:00 pm, Salinas Police Officers responded to a victim of a stabbing in the under 100 block of Natividad Rd.
“On arrival, they located Eleni Tavau (30), who had been stabbed multiple times and was unresponsive.”
The police statement also said: “Her two toddler-aged children were present when officers arrived.
“Officers rendered medical aid to Tavau before she was transported in grave condition to a local hospital, where she died of her injuries.
“Officers and investigators remained on scene, interviewed witnesses, and followed up on leads.
“At approximately 5:30 pm, Rodrigo Bravo (32) turned himself in at the Salinas Police Department where he was arrested and lodged in county jail for the murder of Eleni Tavau.
“He was also charged with felony child endangerment, violation of probation and violation of a domestic violence restraining order.”
During his arraignment in court, Bravo pleaded not guilty to six felony counts including murder in the second degree.
He also faces two charges of causing great bodily harm to a child, and one count each of violating a court restraining order for domestic violence, assault likely to cause great bodily injury, and inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant.
A GoFundMe page has been set up by the victim’s family to pay for her return to her native Samoa where they want to bury her.
Eleni’s younger brother Alex Carr said: “My sister Eleni Tavau was stabbed to death by her kids’ father. She left behind three beautiful children.
“Our goal is to give her a proper burial back home in Samoa. Any donations would help out a lot. Thank you and God Bless “
At the time of writing it had raised more than USD 5,000 (GBP 3,940) out of a USD 18,000 (GBP 14,231) goal.
The investigation is ongoing.
