American Man Deported from Bali After Serving 11 Years for Notorious 'Suitcase Murder'
Indonesia has deported an American man who spent 11 years in prison for the premeditated murder of his then-girlfriend's mother in a case that became internationally known as the Bali "suitcase murder." Tommy Schaefer was released from custody and sent back to the United States this week after completing his sentence for the brutal 2014 killing.
Details of the Gruesome Crime and Trial
Schaefer was originally sentenced to 18 years in prison for the murder of Sheila von Wiese-Mack, the mother of his girlfriend Heather Mack, during a holiday on the Indonesian island. The battered body of the Chicago socialite was discovered inside a suitcase in the trunk of a taxi at an upscale Bali resort, shocking both local authorities and international observers.
Prosecutors revealed that the couple had been attempting to gain access to a $1.5 million trust fund, which provided a clear financial motive for the violent crime. Mack, who was several weeks pregnant at the time of the attack, testified during the 2015 trial that her mother had strongly objected to her relationship with Schaefer.
According to court documents, Mack covered her 62-year-old mother's mouth while Schaefer used a fruit bowl as a weapon during the assault. Bali police arrested both individuals just one day after the murder—Mack was nearly 19 years old at the time, while Schaefer was 21.
Deportation and Ongoing Legal Proceedings
Felucia Sengky Ratna, head of the Bali Regional Office of the directorate general of immigration, confirmed that Schaefer was deported from Bali International Airport on Tuesday after serving his sentence and receiving multiple remissions for good behavior during his incarceration.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals Service, which handles transportation of federal prisoners, verified that Schaefer arrived in Illinois on Wednesday while in custody. He was scheduled to make an initial court appearance in Chicago on Thursday morning to face federal charges including conspiracy to kill someone in a foreign country, conspiracy to commit murder, and tampering with a victim.
Co-conspirator's Separate Legal Journey
Heather Mack, Schaefer's accomplice in the crime, served seven years of a 10-year prison sentence in Bali for her role in helping with the murder before being deported in October 2021. Her legal troubles continued upon returning to the United States, where she pleaded guilty to helping kill her mother and stuffing the body in a suitcase.
In January 2024, Mack received a 26-year prison sentence in Chicago for her participation in the gruesome crime, ensuring that both individuals involved in the Bali suitcase murder case face substantial consequences for their actions across multiple jurisdictions.
The case has drawn significant international attention due to its shocking nature, the young age of the perpetrators, and the complex legal proceedings that have spanned more than a decade across two different countries' justice systems.
