American Man Released from Indonesian Prison After 11 Years for Notorious Bali Murder
Indonesia has freed and deported an American man who spent over a decade in prison for the premeditated murder of his then-girlfriend's mother on the tourist island of Bali. However, his legal troubles are far from over as he now faces federal charges back in the United States for the same brutal crime that shocked international observers.
The Gruesome 2014 Bali 'Suitcase Murder' Case
Tommy Schaefer of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the 2014 murder of Sheila von Wiese-Mack, the mother of his girlfriend Heather Mack, during what was supposed to be a luxury vacation in Bali. The case became internationally known as the "Bali suitcase murder" after von Wiese-Mack's battered body was discovered in a suitcase in the trunk of a taxi parked at the upscale St. Regis Bali Resort in August 2014.
Prosecutors revealed that the couple was attempting to gain access to a substantial $1.5 million trust fund when they committed the heinous crime. According to court documents, Mack covered her mother's mouth while Schaefer bludgeoned the 62-year-old Chicago socialite with a fruit bowl before stuffing her body into the suitcase.
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 back to the United States from Bali International Airport on Tuesday evening. He had served 11 years of his original 18-year sentence, receiving several remissions for good behavior during his incarceration.
Heather Mack's parallel legal journey saw her serve seven years of a 10-year prison sentence in Bali for her role in her mother's murder before being deported in October 2021. She subsequently faced justice in the United States, where she was sentenced to 26 years in prison in Chicago in January 2024 after pleading guilty to helping kill her mother and concealing the body.
Federal Charges Await in Chicago
Schaefer now confronts serious federal charges in the United States, including:
- Conspiracy to kill someone in a foreign country
- Conspiracy to commit murder
- Tampering with a victim
He was scheduled to make an initial court appearance on these charges in Chicago on Thursday morning. The legal representation situation remains unclear, as Schaefer's prior attorney, Chicago-based Thomas Durkin listed in court records, passed away last year.
The U.S. Marshals Service, responsible for transporting federal prisoners, did not immediately respond to inquiries from The Associated Press regarding whether Schaefer had arrived in the United States and was currently in custody. This development marks another chapter in a case that has spanned over a decade and crossed international borders, demonstrating how justice systems in different countries can intersect in complex criminal proceedings.
