Tommy Schaefer, who spent 11 years in prison in Indonesia for the premeditated murder of Sheila von Wiese-Mack, has been deported back to the United States following his release. The case, which became widely known as the Bali suitcase murder, involved the brutal killing of von Wiese-Mack, a wealthy socialite found in the trunk of a taxi at the luxurious St. Regis Bali resort in 2014. Schaefer was sentenced to 18 years but received remissions for good behavior over the course of his incarceration.

The events leading up to the murder were dramatic; Schaefer was 21 years old at the time, and his then-girlfriend Heather Mack was 18 and pregnant. They were arrested shortly after the discovery of von Wiese-Mack’s body, which shocked the international community given the circumstances of the crime as well as the affluent setting in which it occurred. Over the years, Schaefer's case gained media attention, highlighting issues around foreign nationals facing severe penalties in Indonesia, particularly regarding violent crimes.

With Schaefer’s deportation, the case re-enters the public discourse on justice systems in countries heavily reliant on tourism, as well as the complexities surrounding legal proceedings involving foreigners. His return to the US may spark renewed discussions about the implications of his actions in Indonesia, as well as the impact on his relationship with Mack, who faced her own legal challenges following the murder.