Indonesia has deported an American who spent 11 years in prison for the premeditated murder of his girlfriend’s mother while they were vacationing in Bali. Tommy Schaefer returned to the U.S. on Tuesday and is now facing federal charges.
Schaefer received an 18-year sentence for the 2014 death of Sheila von Wiese-Mack, the mother of his then-girlfriend, Heather Mack. Prosecutors alleged that the couple intended to gain access to a trust fund valued at $1.5 million. In August 2014, the body of 62-year-old von Wiese-Mack was discovered in a suitcase in a taxi at the St. Regis Bali Resort.
At the time, Heather Mack was just shy of 19 years old and several weeks pregnant, while Schaefer was 21. Reports indicated that Mack held her mother’s mouth shut while Schaefer struck her with a fruit bowl. The day after the discovery of the body, both were arrested.
A federal court in Chicago indicted both Schaefer and Mack in 2017 with charges including conspiracy to commit murder and obstruction of justice. These charges were to remain sealed until November 2021, at which point Mack was expected to be arrested upon returning to the U.S. She had been serving a 10-year sentence in Bali for her involvement in the murder.
Mack pleaded guilty in June 2023 and was sentenced in January 2024 to 26 years in prison in Chicago for her role in the crime.
At the time, Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri stated that Heather Mack had planned the violent murder and acted alongside Schaefer. She emphasized the brutality of the crime and the need for accountability.
As for Schaefer, it is uncertain who will represent him in his U.S. case since his previous attorney has passed away. He is expected to make his first court appearance in Chicago on Thursday.
