‘Suitcase killer’ Heather Mack arrested at US airport after return from Bali
After being released early from prison for her mother’s brutal death, Bali suitcase killer Heather Mack is back in handcuffs in the US.
After being released early from a Bali prison for her role in her mother’s murder, American-born Heather Mack has been arrested as she touched down in Chicago on Wednesday.
Mack was sentenced to 10 years for helping ex-boyfriend Tommy Schaefer bludgeon her mother Sheila von Wiese Mack to death while holidaying in Bali in 2014.
Schaefer, who is still serving his 18-year murder sentence in Denpasar, used a heavy fruit bowl to kill Sheila before Mack helped him stuff her corpse into a suitcase.
The brutal murder shocked the world, with many dubbing the pair the “suitcase killers”.
Mack, who was pregnant at the time of the killing, later went on to give birth to a little girl behind bars.
On Friday, Mack, now 26, was released from Kerobokan Prison for good behaviour.
Following a lengthy journey back to the US, she touched down at Chicago O’Hare Airport with her six-year-old daughter Stella and was swiftly arrested by the FBI.
Mack plans to fight US indictment
She and Schaefer have been indicted with one count 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.
During her first court appearance on Wednesday, Mack pleaded not guilty to the new charges, the Chicago Tribune reports.
She was described as looking “jet-lagged” during the handcuffed appearance, wearing a tan turtleneck sweater, black pants and white sneakers.
It is believed she is planning to fight the legal bid, citing double jeopardy laws and the impact it will have on Stella, according to reports by Daily Mail.
The government notion filed Wednesday morning stated: “The United States has learnt that defendant Heather Mack was released from prison in Indonesia on October 29, 2021, and plans to return to Chicago, Illinois on or about November 3, 2021.
“An arrest warrant has been issued for Heather Mack based upon the Indictment and the FBI intends to execute the warrant when the defendant arrives at O’Hare Airport.”
Bali ‘suitcase killer’ fresh US charges
The indictment was filed in July 2017 but remained under seal until Federal authorities discovered news of Mack’s return.
If convicted, she faces a maximum statutory penalty of life imprisonment for counts one and two, and 20 years’ imprisonment for count three as well as a fine up to $US250,000 ($AU335,500), Fox News reports.
Mack had been on holiday with her mum Sheila in August 2014 when she arranged for her then boyfriend Schaefer to join them at their five-star hotel in Bali.
Then 18-year-old Mack also “exchanged messages in which they discussed how and when to kill von Weise,” with Schaefer, the US indictment claims.
After arriving in Indonesia, Schaefer entered a hotel room at the St. Regis Bali Resort while Mack and Sheila were inside the room.
Schaefer and Mack proceeded to kill Sheila, placing her body inside a suitcase and loading it into the truck of a taxi cab.
Schaefer and Mack also removed linens from the hotel room and clothing worn during the killing, according to the indictment.
In court on Wednesday, Mack’s lawyer, Keith Spielfogel, said he planned to ask that she be released on bond pending trial but needed more time to prepare.
Another hearing has been set for next week.
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