Lifestyle

Heather Mack Bali: Oak Park woman convicted of killing mother, stuffing body in suitcase, arrested at O’Hare airport Chicago


CHICAGO (WLS) — Oak Park native Heather Mack was arrested upon her return to the Chicago space Wednesday after being launched from an Indonesian jail, the place she served time for serving to to kill her mom, stuffing the physique in a suitcase.

Mack, 26, was launched from jail on Friday after serving seven years and two months of a 10-year sentence. Her then-boyfriend, who was additionally convicted within the killing, was sentenced to 18 years and stays in jail.

She was taken into custody once more as quickly as she landed.

Mack initially deliberate to go to Los Angeles along with her 6-year-old daughter Stella earlier than returning to Chicago, however the FBI advised her she would as a substitute need to return on to Chicago.

Mack and her earlier boyfriend Tommy Schaefer now face federal fees of conspiracy to commit homicide and obstruction of justice.

Within the federal indictment unsealed Wednesday, prosecutors allege Mack and Schaefer deliberate the homicide whereas nonetheless within the U.S. earlier than finishing up the plot in Bali.

Mack will stay in federal custody till at the very least subsequent Wednesday after showing in a Chicago courtroom right now.

Chatting with the I-Workforce’s Chuck Goudie, U.S. Legal professional John Lausch mentioned the 2017 indictment remained sealed till her return to Chicago Wednesday.

“It is a flat out witch hunt,” mentioned Mack’s lawyer Brian Claypool. “The U.S. attorneys are indicting Heather Mack for a criminal offense that she was already prosecuted for in Indonesia.”

However is it? Convicted of serving to to kill her mom whereas touring along with her in Bali, the crimes she and Schaefer are actually accused of occurred, at the very least partially, whereas nonetheless in the USA.

“That is what offers the federal government the jurisdiction to convey these fees and since there is not any double jeopardy bar they will do it,” mentioned ABC7 Authorized Analyst Gil Soffer.

RELATED: Heather Mack released from Bali prison after murder of mother Sheila von Wiese-Mack in 2014

Von Wiese-Mack’s household thanked the FBI for his or her work Wednesday, saying in an announcement, “”We’ve got been concurrently mourning the lack of our lovely sister Sheila, protecting her spirit alive, aiding within the quest for justice, and advocating for the wellbeing of Stella.”

And the kid’s paternal grandmother, Kia Walker, mentioned she plans to struggle for guardianship.

“I would really like custody of my granddaughter. I would really like the chance to offer a secure area for her,” she mentioned.

“She has maintained a relationship with Stella. She has had common contact along with her. Kia tried to get guardianship earlier than, when Stella was born,” mentioned Michael Goldberg, the paternal grandmother’s lawyer. “Kia loves her granddaughter. She desires what’s greatest for her. She stands prepared, keen and in a position to take care of her and to like her and to be there for her.”

Walker got here to the airport Wednesday morning, hoping to see her granddaughter, however the woman was whisked away.

Schaefer known as Walker as she was leaving the airport, and he declined to touch upon the scenario.

Walker mentioned she talks to her son twice every week, and he absolutely helps his mom attempting to get custody.

Mack’s lawyer vowing to struggle any makes an attempt to take away the six-year-old from the non permanent guardian her mom has chosen for her. Mack’s fast drawback nevertheless shall be to struggle these fees. If convicted, she faces as much as life in jail.

The killing generated nationwide and worldwide consideration for years, partially due to images of the suitcase that appeared far too small to carry an grownup lady’s physique.

The badly crushed physique of her mom, rich Chicago socialite Sheila von Wiese-Mack, was discovered within the suitcase contained in the trunk of a taxi parked on the upscale St. Regis Bali Resort in August 2014.

Mack reportedly had a troubled relationship along with her mom, with officers within the U.S. confirming that police had been known as to the household’s Oak Park, Illinois, house dozens of instances.

Mack, who was nearly 19 and some weeks pregnant on the time of the incident, and her then-21-year-old boyfriend, Schaefer, had been arrested a day after Wiese-Mack’s physique was discovered after they had been discovered at a resort about 6 miles from the St. Regis.

Their daughter, Stella Schaefer, was born shortly earlier than her dad and mom had been convicted in 2015. Underneath Indonesian regulation, she was allowed to reside along with her mom in her cell in Kerobokan feminine jail till she turned 2, when Mack gave custody of her younger daughter to an Australian lady till her launch from jail.

The Related Press contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2021 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.





Source link

news7h

News7h: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button
Immediate Peak