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Murder of Sheila von Wiese-Mack

Pregnant 18-year-old Heather Mack and her boyfriend at the time, Tommy Schaefer, conspired to kill her mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack, so that Heather could access her $1.5 million trust fund.

While Heather and Sheila were on vacation in Bali in August 2014, Heather stole her mother’s credit card and paid for Schaefer’s flight over.

Schaefer killed Shelia, then they stuffed her in a suitcase and left it in the back of a taxi, where the body was later discovered. Both were arrested and convicted.

Heather served 7 years of a 10-year sentence. Thanks to Indonesian law, her daughter lived with her in prison until she was two years old, before being handed over to an outside caregiver. After her release in 2021, she tried to stay in Indonesia, but she was deported back to the USA.

She was arrested at the airport on federal charges because she and Schaefer planned the murder in the States.

Heather pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill a U.S. national and was facing up to 28 years.

Her defense team sought a 15-year sentence with credit for the time she served in Indonesia, but she was sentenced to 26 years in January 2024. Her cousin has custody of her daughter.

Heather is locked up in a federal prison in West Virginia. She will be released in March 2044.

Schaefer received an 18-year sentence in Indonesia. According to WTTW, he was released and deported back to the US in February 2026.

He is in custody awaiting his January 2027 trial on conspiracy to kill someone in a foreign country and other charges.