Chicago Man Arrested in Murder Conspiracy Charges
A Chicago man, Tommy Schaefer, was apprehended while flying over international waters on a trip back to the United States. This comes after he was convicted in 2014 for killing his girlfriend’s mother using a suitcase in Bali, Indonesia. Federal authorities have now charged him with multiple counts of conspiracy to commit murder and obstruction.
According to the Department of Justice, the charges filed in the Northern District of Illinois detail that Schaefer conspired with his girlfriend, Heather Mack, to orchestrate the murder of her mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack. The murder was planned during their visit to Bali.
Court documents reveal that Mack facilitated Schaefer’s travel to Bali, intending it as part of their plot. Notably, Schaefer communicated with his cousin, Ryan Bibbs, not long before the murder to discuss their plans.
In a statement from December 2016, Bibbs admitted to advising Schaefer regarding the murder. He ultimately pleaded guilty to conspiracy related to the case. Additionally, records show that Mack inquired whether Bibbs knew anyone who might carry out the killing for a fee.
Prosecutors allege that the two conspired about the specifics of the murder, executing it in von Wiese-Mack’s hotel room on August 12, 2014. Afterward, they reportedly concealed her body in a suitcase, disposing of it in a taxi trunk.
The motive behind this drastic act appears to be financial, with the couple seeking access to a substantial trust fund valued at $1.5 million. Witnesses stated that von Wiese-Mack’s body was discovered in a suitcase in a taxi parked at the St. Regis Bali Resort.
At the time of the murder, Mack was just 19 years old and several weeks pregnant, while Schaefer was 21. Prosecutors allege that Mack helped by covering her mother’s mouth while Schaefer struck her with a fruit bowl, a rather shocking detail. Authorities arrested both individuals the day after the body was found.
The subsequent year, both were convicted in Indonesia, where Mack was sentenced to 10 years, while Schaefer received 18 years. Mack returned to the U.S. and pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges, receiving a 26-year sentence in federal prison in June 2023. Schaefer’s term was shortened due to good behavior, allowing him to return to the U.S. after completing his sentence.
If found guilty of the federal charges, Schaefer could face life imprisonment for the murder conspiracy counts. The obstruction charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years and a fine of $250,000.
