Tommy Schaefer, the former boyfriend of Heather Mack, was deported from Indonesia on Thursday, February 26, 2026, after serving more than 11 years in prison for the 2014 murder of Mack’s mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack, in Bali. His deportation follows that of Mack herself, who was returned to the United States in 2021 and subsequently sentenced to 26 years in a U.S. Federal prison for conspiracy to commit the murder.
The case, dubbed the “suitcase murder” by international media, gained notoriety after von Wiese-Mack’s body was discovered stuffed inside a suitcase in the trunk of a taxi at the St. Regis Bali Resort. Prosecutors alleged that Mack and Schaefer conspired to kill von Wiese-Mack to gain access to a $1.5 million trust fund. Mack reportedly covered her mother’s mouth while Schaefer bludgeoned her with a fruit bowl.
Schaefer was initially sentenced to 18 years in prison by an Indonesian court. Upon his arrival in the United States, he now faces federal charges related to the murder. Mack pleaded guilty in June 2023 to one count of conspiring to kill von Wiese-Mack and was sentenced to 26 years in January 2024. Judge Matthew Kennelly credited her with approximately two years already served in U.S. Custody.
The relationship between Mack and her mother was reportedly strained, with police records indicating 86 visits to their home in Oak Park, Illinois, between 2004, and 2013. Bill Wiese, von Wiese-Mack’s brother and Mack’s uncle, testified at Mack’s sentencing hearing, urging the judge to impose the maximum sentence and stating that Mack had never shown remorse.
The case as well involved a prior legal dispute involving Mack’s father, James L. Mack, who sued Royal Caribbean after suffering a foot injury on a cruise in 2001 that resulted in partial paralysis. He alleged inadequate medical treatment from the ship’s doctor. James L. Mack died in 2006.
Federal prosecutors had recommended a 28-year prison sentence for Mack, along with five years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and restitution of $262,708. Her attorney, Michael Leonard, stated her formal sentence will be around 23 years, factoring in time already served, with potential for further reduction due to good behavior credits.
As of February 26, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s office has not commented on the timing of Schaefer’s trial or the potential for joint proceedings with any remaining co-conspirators.
