Heather Mack arrested in Chicago after being jailed in Bali for allegedly killing mom, stuffing body in suitcase

CHICAGO (TCD) -- A 26-year-old woman who was recently released from prison in Bali was arrested Wednesday at O’Hare International Airport and charged with conspiring to kill her mother.

According to a statement from the Department of Justice, Heather Mack is accused of killing her mother Sheila Von Weise during a vacation in Bali on Aug. 12, 2014. Mack’s boyfriend at the time, Tommy Schaefer, reportedly flew to Bali while they were there.

The Justice Department alleges, "Mack and Schaefer discussed how and when to kill Von Weise, arranged for Schaefer to travel to Bali, committed the murder, and then placed Von Weise’s body inside a suitcase which they loaded into the trunk of a taxi."

According to the statement, Schaefer spoke with his cousin Ryan Bibbs and "received advice" on how to kill Von Weise. Bibbs pleaded guilty in December 2016 to conspiracy to commit foreign murder of a U.S. national.

Mack and Schaefer both faced trial in Indonesia and were sentenced to prison. According to The Associated Press, in August, Indonesian officials announced they would release Mack in August. She served six years of her 10-year sentence and was let out Oct. 29. Schaefer was sentenced to 18 years.

Mack was reportedly a few weeks pregnant at the time of her arrest. Her 6-year-old daughter was with her on the flight back to Chicago when Mack got arrested. The Associated Press reports one of Mack’s lawyers got emergency custody of the little girl.

The Justice Department said Schaefer and Mack were both indicted in the Northern District of Illinois on one count each of conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, one count of conspiracy to commit foreign murder of a U.S. national, and one count of obstruction.

If convicted, the Justice Department said Mack could face life in prison for the first two counts and 20 years for the third count, plus a $250,000 fine.

According to The Associated Press, Mack pleaded not guilty to the charges. She was ordered to remain in custody until her next hearing on Nov. 10.

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