Tommy Schaefer, an American man, has been freed and deported after serving 11 years in prison for the premeditated murder of his then-girlfriend’s mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack, on the Indonesian island of Bali. Schaefer, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the 2014 murder, was deported to the United States from Bali International Airport on the evening of October 3, 2023, following several remissions granted for good behavior.
The case, often referred to as the Bali “suitcase murder,” drew significant media attention due to its shocking nature. The body of the 62-year-old von Wiese-Mack, a wealthy socialite from Chicago, was discovered in the trunk of a taxi parked at the luxurious St. Regis Bali Resort in August 2014. Schaefer, aged 21 at the time, and his then-girlfriend, Heather Mack, who was nearly 19 and several weeks pregnant, were arrested the day after the gruesome discovery.
Following their arrests, both Schaefer and Mack faced serious legal consequences. Mack served seven years of a ten-year sentence for her involvement in the murder before being deported in October 2021. She later received a 26-year prison sentence in Chicago in January 2024 after pleading guilty to charges related to the murder and the concealment of her mother’s body.
Schaefer’s release marks the end of a lengthy legal saga that has captivated audiences across both Indonesia and the United States. His case has raised discussions about the Indonesian legal system and the implications of international crimes.
While Schaefer’s deportation concludes his prison term, the impact of this case continues to resonate, reflecting the complexities of justice and familial relationships that can lead to tragic outcomes.