Daughter in Bali prison for murder of wealthy mother signs over estate to baby born in jail

The young American woman imprisoned in Bali for the murder of her mother has given up her claim to her mother’s million-dollar estate.

Heather Mack, now 22, was sentenced to ten years in prison in Indonesia after her mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack, was found murdered and stuffed in a suitcase in 2014. Mack’s boyfriend Tommy Schaefer was also convicted of the murder and sentenced to 18 years in prison.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Mack is no longer pursuing the funds her late mother’s $1.56 million estate, which has been roughly cut in half due to legal fees related to the murder and the trial. Her three-year-old daughter will be the sole beneficiary of the estate.

Mack gave birth to daughter Stella in 2015, while she was in jail. Per Indonesian custom, children born to inmates are permitted to remain in prison with their mothers until they turn two years old. Stella is now in the custody of an Indonesian family, and will be reunited with her mother after she finishes her sentence.

Sheila von Wiese-Mack’s brother William Wiese is the estate’s trustee, has reportedly been working to make sure Heather does not profit from her mother’s death.

“My goal from Day 1 was to resolve this case and save as much money as possible for Stella,” he said Wednesday. “While I wish it could have been sooner, I’m glad it is finally resolved.”

Sheila had reportedly taken her daughter on the Bali trip in order to try and mend their long-troubled relationship. Schaefer later joined the women, though that had not been part of the plan. The court determined that Schaefer was primarily responsible for beating Wiese-Mack to death, and that Mack aided him in the murder.

 

[Feature image: Heather Mack/Firdia Lisnawati for Associated Press]