BADUNG, DEWATA.NEWS – Tommy Schaefer, an American national convicted in the high-profile 2014 “suitcase murder” case in Bali, was officially released from Kerobokan Class IIA Prison at 12:00 WITA on Tuesday (February 17), after completing his 18-year sentence.
The release was confirmed by Moretska Victor Noya, Head of Inmate Development at Kerobokan Prison.
“Yes, that is correct. Today Tommy Schaefer has been released,” Moretska told reporters.
He stated that Schaefer was handed over to immigration authorities in accordance with standard procedures. There was no involvement of the FBI in the process.
“Only immigration officers handled the transfer,” he added.
Background of the Case
The case began in August 2014, when Sheila von Wiese-Mack, 62, was found dead inside a suitcase in the trunk of a taxi at the St. Regis Bali Resort in Nusa Dua.
The discovery drew widespread attention both domestically and internationally. Taxi driver Ketut Wirjana became a key witness after noticing blood stains on the suitcase while waiting for more than an hour without the couple returning to the vehicle. When the suitcase was opened, the victim’s body was found wrapped in hotel bedsheets and forcibly folded inside.
Autopsy results showed injuries to the head, face, and hands, indicating that the victim had attempted to defend herself.
Schaefer and his girlfriend, Heather Mack—who was 19 years old at the time—were arrested the following day at a hotel located approximately 10 kilometers from the crime scene.
Court Verdict
On April 21, 2015, the Denpasar District Court sentenced Schaefer to 18 years in prison. Heather Mack received a 10-year sentence for assisting in the murder.
During the trial, Schaefer admitted striking Sheila with a fruit bowl during an altercation at the hotel. He claimed he acted in defense of Mack, who was pregnant at the time, following a dispute between mother and daughter.
However, the panel of judges ruled that the act constituted premeditated murder, taking into account the prior history of tension and conflict between Mack and her mother in Chicago.
Sheila von Wiese-Mack was the widow of jazz composer James L. Mack, who passed away in 2006. The couple had traveled to Bali for a vacation prior to the incident.
Release and Deportation Process
Heather Mack was released earlier in 2021 and deported to the United States.
According to prison authorities, Schaefer’s release was carried out under full legal supervision and in line with applicable regulations. During his incarceration, he reportedly participated in educational and rehabilitation programs offered by the prison.
Following his release, Schaefer has been returned to the United States under immigration procedures, officially concluding one of Bali’s most widely reported criminal cases involving foreign nationals.