Samoan Police are investigating after celebrated author and poet Sia Figiel was found dead in a prison cell near Apia.

Her body was found shortly after 6am on Monday morning according to local media.

Figiel - who held the chiefly title of Papāli’i - had won several awards for her literature, which was translated into many languages. She studied at Auckland University, and overseas, and travelled widely - including completing several international writers’ residencies.

Her debut novel Where We Once Belonged - a coming-of-age story set in 1970s Samoa - won the 1997 Best First Book award in the South East Asia / South Pacific section of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. It was later adapted into a stage play with the same name

Figiel, 59, had been in police custody in Samoa since 2024, when she was arrested and charged over the alleged murder of fellow writer and academic, Dr Caroline Sinavaiana Gabbard (78).

Sia Figiel was an award-winning writer whose works were celebrated around the Pacific. Photo / Supplied

Gabbard’s body was discovered at Figiel’s home in the village of Vaivase-Uta. She was an aunt of American politician and US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard - the first Samoan-American to reach Congress.

Figiel had pleaded not guilty to five charges, including murder, and was awaiting her next Supreme Court hearing, with sentencing due next month.

Samoa’s Acting Police Commissioner, Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga, has told Samoan media that Figiel was the prisoner found dead in a cell at the Tanumalala Prison facility.

A cause of death has not been released by authorities and Samoan police are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the author’s death.

Figiel’s body has since been transferred to a hospital morgue. A decision on whether or not a post-mortem examination will be carried out is not yet known, Talamua Media reported.

Figiel’s works are well-known and respected around the Pacific and in New Zealand, where they have been published over the years. Her poetry and writing have been taught in schools.

After the death of Gabbard, Figiel handed herself in to authorities and a murder trial began last year in August.

Local media reported during the trial that Figiel “cried uncontrollably” behind her lawyer as police forensics described the crime scene.

Since news of her death, many people have paid tribute to Figiel via social media.

Vaimoana Mase is the Pasifika editor for theHerald’s Talanoa section, sharing stories from the Pacific community. She won junior reporter of the year at the then Qantas Media Awards in 2010 and won the best opinion writing award at the 2023 Voyager Media Awards.