<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/indonesia" rel="" target="_blank" title="Indonesia"><span>Indonesia</span></a><span> has freed and deported an </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="_blank" title="American"><span>American</span></a><span> man after he spent 11 years in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/prison" rel="" target="_blank" title="prison"><span>prison</span></a><span> for the premeditated </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/murder" rel="" target="_blank" title="murder"><span>murder</span></a><span> of his then-girlfriend’s mother in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/bali" rel="" target="_blank" title="Bali"><span>Bali</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tommy Schaefer was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the 2014 murder of Sheila von Wiese-Mack, a wealthy Chicago socialite, during a luxury vacation. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The case became known as the Bali “suitcase murder ” because her battered body was found in a suitcase in the trunk of a taxi at an upscale resort.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>UPDATE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/cuba-military-attack-us-registered-boat-kill-four-people/4a13e634-666d-4368-a533-961b1aeae555"><strong><span>Cuba claims passengers on US boat began firefight with soldiers</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The couple was trying to gain access to a $US1.5 million ($2.1 million) trust fund, prosecutors have said, with Heather Mack covering her 62-year-old mother’s mouth while Schaefer bludgeoned her with a fruit bowl.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/police" rel="" target="_blank" title="Police"><span>Police</span></a><span> in Bali arrested Mack, nearly 19 at the time and a few weeks pregnant, and the then-21-year-old Schaefer a day later.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Schaefer was deported yesterday back to the United States 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, in a statement.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/tommy-schaefer-released-bali-indonesia-prison-deprted-usa-suitcase-murder-sheila-von-wiese-mack/baf616d3-1cd5-41a3-b80b-665e17702116" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cba-and-westpac-hike-fixed-rates-after-rba-decision/b8f60f10-e715-4e88-b024-f55cfcf3584a" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Major banks' new move hints at more interest rate pain for Aussies</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A spokesperson for the US Marshals Service, which transports federal prisoners, confirmed Schaefer was in custody and arrived in Illinois on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT). The spokesperson said the FBI handled his movement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Schaefer is still on the hook for federal charges back home, however.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was scheduled to make an initial </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/courts" rel="" target="_blank" title="court"><span>court</span></a><span> appearance in Chicago on federal charges of conspiracy to kill someone in a foreign country, conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with a victim.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/horrific-kidnapping-and-murder-accused-face-court/6db2ef98-5bc7-4b30-9738-be0249dbfa51" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Horrific': kidnapping and murder accused face court</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Schaefer's </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/law" rel="" target="_blank" title="lawyer"><span>lawyer</span></a><span> in the US case, Chicago-based Thomas Durkin, died last year. Court records showed a new attorney, Matthew Madden, also of Chicago, is now representing him. Madden did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mack served seven years of a 10-year prison sentence in Bali for helping to kill her mother and was deported in October 2021.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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 the suitcase.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></strong></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>