Tommy Schaefer confesses to killing girlfriend's mom and stuffing her in suitcase
theGRIO REPORT -
Tommy Schaefer, a resident of Chicago, has confessed to the murder of his girlfriend’s mother last Friday.
In his confession, he also said that his girlfriend, 19-year-old Heather Mack, had then helped him stuff the body in a suitcase which they left in a taxi in front of the hotel they were staying at in Bali.
Healther’s mother, Sheila Mack, 62, was killed on August 12 of this year. The incident happened a day after she, her daughter and Schaefer had a shouting match at the lobby of the St. Regis Hotel, where they were staying.
Several hotel employees heard Mack argue that because she paid for Schaefer’s flight to Bali, he should at least pay for his room — as he was staying in one that was separate from the Macks.Â
William Wiese — Sheila’s brother — told the Chicago Tribune that their Bali vacation was supposed to be a fresh start for the mother and daughter, who were both involved in a dozen police calls and responses over the years due to episodes of domestic violence.
Wiese did not think that his sister had anticipated Schaefer joining them, as he arrived a week after they did.
Indonesian police say that they have substantial evidence that can tie the suspects to the murder, including bloody fingerprints on the suitcase, DNA from clothes and security camera footage from the hallway leading to the room which the Macks occupied.
One piece of footage shows Schaefer appearing to have something hidden under his shirt before entering the Macks’ room shortly before the time of the murder. The suspects then wheeled the luggage and placed it inside a taxi. They told the taxi driver to wait before escaping by slipping away to another hotel and leaving the bag and the body behind.
Now, the question is whether the murder was premeditated or was done in the heat of the moment. If the suspects are found guilty of premeditated murder, they can face life imprisonment without parole, or death by firing squad. If they are convicted of murder that was done in the heat of the moment, both will face up to 15 years in prison.
