US man confesses to Bali suitcase killing: police

An American man has confessed to killing his girlfriend’s mother at a luxury resort on Bali.

His girlfriend has admitted helping stuff the body into a suitcase, police said on Friday.

The battered body of Ms Sheila von Wiese Mack, 62, was found in the case in the boot of a taxi in front of an exclusive hotel in the upscale Nusa Dua resort area on Aug 12.

Her teenage daughter, Heather Mack, and daughter’s boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, had been staying with her at the St Regis hotel but fled to another part of the island after the killing.

They were caught the following day.

They are in custody in Bali while police continue investigation.

Death penalty

They could face the death penalty if found guilty of premeditated murder.

Indonesian authorities previously claimed they have strong evidence against the pair.

Djoko Heru Utomo, police chief in Denpasar, said they had admitted their involvement in the case during questioning in recent days, AFP reported.

“Both suspects have confessed,” he said, adding that Schaefer, 21, had admitted to carrying out the killing after an argument with the victim.

The daughter, 19, claimed she watched Schaefer kill her mother and then helped to stuff the body into the suitcase, said Mr Utomo.

“The interrogation is continuing in order to get the full account,” he added.

Source: AFP