On Air Now

The Sean Show

6:00pm - 8:00pm

Now Playing

Kelly Clarkson

Since U Been Gone

American jailed over suitcase murder deported from Bali

Indonesia has freed and deported an American man after he spent 11 years in jail for the premeditated murder of his then-girlfriend's mother, in a case known as the Bali "suitcase murder".

Tommy Schaefer was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the 2014 murder of Sheila von Wiese-Mack, the mother of Heather Mack, during a holiday on the island.

The battered body of the Chicago socialite was found in a suitcase in the boot of a taxi at a luxury resort.

The couple were trying to gain access to a $1.5m (£1.1m) trust fund, prosecutors have said.

Mack, who was a few weeks pregnant at the time of the attack, told the court in 2015 her mother objected to her relationship with Schaefer.

She covered her 62-year-old mother's mouth while Schaefer used a fruit bowl for the assault.

Read more from Sky News:
Cubans shot on speedboat during 'terrorist infiltration' attempt
Meet the kids who want a social media ban

Police in Bali arrested Mack, nearly 19 at the time, and the then-21-year-old Schaefer a day later.

Schaefer was deported back to the US from Bali International Airport on Tuesday after serving his sentence and receiving a number of remissions for good behaviour, said Felucia Sengky Ratna, head of the Bali Regional Office of the directorate general of immigration.

He was in custody and arrived in Illinois on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the US Marshals Service, which transports federal prisoners, confirmed.

Schaefer was scheduled to make an initial court appearance in Chicago on Thursday morning on federal charges of conspiracy to kill someone in a foreign country, conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with a victim.

Mack served seven years of a 10-year prison sentence in Bali for helping with the murder and was deported in October 2021.

She was also sentenced to 26 years in prison in Chicago in January 2024, after she pleaded guilty to helping kill her mother and stuffing the body in a suitcase.

Sky News

(c) Sky News 2026: American jailed over suitcase murder deported from Bali

Donate to Roch Valley Radio

 

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something happening in our Borough?

Let us know by emailing newsdesk@rochvalleyradio.com

All contact will be treated in confidence.

More from World

Donate to Roch Valley Radio

 

Recently Played

Newsletter

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

   

Coming up next On Air

  • The Sean Show

    6:00pm - 8:00pm

    Sean Cummiskey brings you the The Sensational Spectacular Sctillating Supersonic Sean Show! Or for ease The Sean Show! Top music and musings with “Great Number 2’s” and the home of tenuous links to songs from the news and “on this day!”.

  • The Midnight Special

    8:00pm - 10:00pm

    Craig, Christian and Tony bring a mix of songs & genres & nonsense, from brand new to classic.

  • Ben

    10:00pm - Midnight

    With Ben Chuvali

  • After Hours

    Midnight - 2:00am

    For the night owls, night workers and everyone still going while the rest of the town sleeps. Music, chat and company after dark.

  • Wide Awake Club

    2:00am - 5:00am

    For those who find themselves awake at 3am more often than they’d like. Calm music, understanding voices and quiet company.

  • Up Before the Alarm

    5:00am - 7:00am

    for early starters, commuters and anyone already on their second brew. Livelier music and new voices warming things up before breakfast.