Woman Sentenced to 26 Years in Bali Murder Conspiracy
In a harrowing case, an Illinois woman, Heather Mack, has been sentenced to 26 years in prison for her involvement in a chilling conspiracy to murder her mother during a vacation in Bali, Indonesia, back in August 2014.
Details of the Murder Conspiracy Unfold
Heather Mack, 28, originally from Chicago, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement, revealing her complicity in conspiring with her boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, to kill her mother while on vacation in Bali.
The disturbing details included Mack arranging for Schaefer’s travel to Bali using her mother’s credit card.
Text Messages Reveal Gruesome Plot
As the conspiracy unfolded, Mack and Schaefer exchanged text messages discussing the gruesome details of how and when to carry out the murder.
The discussions included methods such as suffocation or beating. On August 12, 2014, Schaefer brutally beat and killed Mack’s mother in the victim’s hotel room.
Failed Attempt to Flee the Crime Scene
Following the murder, Mack and Schaefer attempted to leave the hotel with the victim’s body placed inside a suitcase.
However, their escape plan was thwarted when the taxi driver refused to accept them. Fleeing the hotel, they abandoned the suitcase containing the victim’s body in the taxicab.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Indonesian police arrested Mack and Schaefer the day after the murder at another hotel in Bali. Mack’s sentencing comes after exhaustive investigative work by law enforcement in both the United States and Indonesia.
U.S. Officials Commend Justice Served
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri expressed satisfaction with the significant sentence, holding Mack accountable for the heinous crime. Acting U.S.
Attorney Morris Pasqual emphasized that the sentence sends a powerful message about the U.S. justice system’s commitment to holding offenders accountable abroad.
Background and International Legal Actions
In 2015, both Mack and Schaefer were convicted in Indonesia on local criminal charges related to the murder.
While Mack served seven years of her 10-year sentence, Schaefer remains imprisoned with an 18-year sentence.
The legal proceedings in the United States began in November 2021 upon Mack’s arrival.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings for Co-Conspirator
Charges against Schaefer in the U.S. indictment are pending, reflecting the ongoing legal proceedings.
Mack pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to kill a U.S. national in June 2023.
Investigation and Prosecution
The FBI Chicago Field Office, in collaboration with international partners, investigated the case, underscoring the commitment to seeking justice for Americans worldwide.
Prosecution of the case involved Senior Trial Attorney Frank G. Rangoussis and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Marie E. Ursini.
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