Police report thefts in Fagatogo solved

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On May 28, 2025, a woman reported that her parents’ home was burglarized.

The suspect, Elionai Kuresa was arrested and charged with:

Count 1, 4, & 7: Stealing, a class C felony punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed seven years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or an amount equal to twice the amount of gain from the commission of the crime up to a maximum of $20,000.00, or both imprisonment and fine;

Count 2, 5, & 8: Burglary in the First Degree, a class B felony by a term of imprisonment not to exceed fifteen years; and,

Count 3, 6, & 9: Trespass, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $50,000.

Court records stated that on May 28th, authorities received a call reporting an alleged theft in the village of Fogagogo. The matter was reported by a woman (the reporter), whose parents’ home had been broken into.

Police officers upon arrival at the scene, canvassed the home and during their initial interview with the reporter, she stated that she was not sure what had been taken due to the fact that the residence belongs to her parents, who were off island.

When the officers arrived back at the station, they received another call from another woman (identified as victim #1) who was also reporting an alleged theft in the same village. The officers proceeded to serve the call and upon arrival canvassed the house. The officers also met with a neighbor and were provided a summary of items allegedly missing.

The investigation revealed that an individual came upon victim #1’s house to which the family observed a shining flashlight in the backyard around 11:30 p.m. Victim #1’s son-in-law, stated that he was able to get a clear look at the suspect’s face and claimed that the suspect’s name was “Jonah” and they used to attend the same high school.

Upon receiving this information, DPS determined that this could be the same individual known as “Jonah” who has had prior interaction with DPS regarding similar matters.

During a follow up on May 29th, with the daughter of victim #2, she disclosed certain items missing from her parents’ home. She stated that her mother (victim #2) informed her that she had an iPad and a laptop near the printer, she also had a pair of sports shoes inside the master bedroom. She told the authorities that these items were not accounted for in her parents’ home.

Authorities also followed up with victim #1’s case where they walked over to one of the neighbor’s home near the victim’s house. They met up with the neighbor (later identified as witness #2) and interviewed him if he had seen anything unusual in the past few days.

Witness #2 stated that he was doing yard work around 8:00 a.m. of May 29, 2025 and about 10:00 a.m., he observed a silver vehicle turn into his driveway, then reverse back towards a grass area near victim #2’s residence. He observed a man get out and run into the bushes and grabbed a lawn mower which he placed into the vehicle and then sped off in the vehicle. However, he saw that it was rental starting with the number five (5).

The officers also asked the witness if he knew the suspect and he told them that “it’s that kid Jonah who is always roaming and walking the streets.”

The witness further stated that when he went to feed his dogs, he came across a clear box containing a hair clipper, which he retrieved and held onto, as he was going to ask victim #2’s son in-law if it belonged to him.

On May 29th, one of the officers went to the Iliili Golf Course and met with the suspect’s best friend. The said officer knew the suspect and his friend from when they used to sell golf balls at the golf course. The officer asked for the suspect’s whereabouts and his best friend asked him if he was looking for the lawnmower?

The officer then asked him if he had any knowledge about the lawnmower and the suspect’s best friend told him that the suspect bragged to him about his lawnmower that he stole from another family in Fogagogo.

The officer asked the suspect’s friend if he could accompany him to the station for further investigation. Upon arrival at the station, the suspect’s friend was interviewed and also gave a written statement.

He stated that the suspect approached him boasting about a house that he had broken into in Fogagogo. The suspect told him that he got a lawn mower (weed-eater), a laptop, and several other items. He stated that a guy by the name of Leroy Vaanatiu utilized his rental vehicle to retrieve the stolen items from Fogagogo accompanied by the suspect.

The best friend was also asked if Jonah had another name and he said yes and identified the suspect as Elionai Kuresa.

Authorities made several attempts to locate Jonah but were unsuccessful. The officers also contacted the High Court and they confirmed that Elionai Kuresa (Jonah) had an outstanding bench warrant.

On May 31st, the suspect was observed in front of a residence in Iliili across from the Iakina Academy where he was apprehended and served with a bench warrant. He was transported to the TPS for processing.

Upon arrival at the TPS, the suspect was Mirandized to which he understood and provided both a verbal and written statement regarding the break in for both residences in Fogagogo.

According to the suspect, he explained that it was around 1:00 a.m. on Thursday, he walked to Fogagogo and came across a nice house. He walked around victim #2’s property and saw that the air condition for one of the rooms was on. He then turned his focus away and went towards the tool shed. He tried to open the door to the shed but it was locked so he broke the door to access the shed. When he got inside, he took a weed eater, an army rucksack containing military accessories (gloves, boots, belt and helmet). He hid the items near the main road behind the rock wall on the left side of the family’s house.

The suspect also mentioned that once he took the stolen items from victim #’2 house, he proceeded to the next house. He claimed that he jumped through an open window and went through the house and stole a laptop, iPad and a pair of sports shoes. He hid the items again near the first house he broke into and walked back to Illiili and informed Leroy about what he did. He proceeded with Leroy, using his rental car to collect the stolen items.

The suspect claimed he handed over the laptop to Leroy in exchange for a $25.00 baggie containing Methamphetamine. The suspect also stated that the purpose of the break-in was to be able to get money to send him off island for his mother’s funeral.

An investigation later revealed that after the day of the initial break in, the suspect returned to victim #2’s home where he entered the same tool shed and stole a set of silver hair clippers and hid it in front of the neighbor’s house. The suspect also stated that he was spooked when the home owner came out and saw him in the process of stealing. This item was later recovered by the neighbor who returned it to the rightful owner.

On June 1st, 2025, Leroy Vaanatiu (suspect #2) was brought into the TPS to which he was informed that he was not under arrest and was free to leave at any time. The authorities also informed him that they were seeking confirmation about a laptop that Kuresa stated he gave to him. Leroy confirmed that Kuresa gave him a laptop but denied giving him any meth. Leroy was asked to describe the laptop and if he had it with him. Leroy stated that it was a silver HP laptop and he said he sold the laptop to Simi Sou for $140.00.

The officers proceeded to the IFIX store in Pavaiai and the owner confirmed that he accepted the laptop on May 29, 2025 and paid Leroy $140. The owner was informed that the item was stolen in which the store owner returned the laptop to the officers. The laptop was later returned to the owner.

The value of the items stolen from victim #1’s home was valued at around $600.00 and about $800 for victim #2.

Kuresa was later booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 22-year-old U.S National.

(The affidavit does not state if Mr. Vaanatiu will be facing charges related to this case.)