Page 7 - atoday sept 24

U.S. NEWS A7
Thursday 24 September

US: Chicago man helped cousin on Indonesia killing via texts

In this March, 2015 file photo, Heather Mack, 19, left, and her al court in Chicago with Mack, 62, was bludgeoned “Definitely need that,” the
boyfriend Tommy Schaefer, 21, of Chicago, are handcuffed as conspiring with his cous- to death, Schaefer alleg- complaint says. Schae-
they arrive at a courtroom during their trial in Bali, Indonesia. in, Tommy Schaefer, and edly texted Bibbs saying fer even texted emojis of
Mack and Schaefer, 19, were both convicted in the killing of Heather Mack to kill Sheila the couple had unsuc- money bags to indicate
Mack’s mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack. von Wiese-Mack, whose cessfully tried causing the how the killing would make
body was found stuffed in- mother to overdose on them all rich, the complaint
(AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati, File) side a suitcase in a taxi at medication. “I told you,” says.
the resort in Bali in August Bibbs answered in a text; After their conviction earlier
MICHAEL TARM the most effective methods 2014. An Indonesian court “U was right,” Schaefer re- this year, Schaefer was sen-
Associated Press to kill. convicted Mack, 19, and sponded, according to the tenced to 18 years in prison
CHICAGO (AP) — A Chi- Robert Justin Bibbs, 24, be- Schaefer, 21, in the killing in criminal complaint. for battering the woman
cago man was arrested lieved that in exchange for April. The complaint says Schae- to death and Mack to 10
Wednesday on charges instructing the couple on When U.S. Magistrate Judge fer then texted Bibbs that years for helping.
that he advised his cousin how to carry out the slaying Maria Valdez asked Bibbs Mack was in the Bali ho- At his trial, Schaefer testi-
and his cousin’s girlfriend and how to evade police at an initial appearance tel room with her sleeping fied that von Wiese-Mack
about how to kill the wom- detection that he would Wednesday whether he mother and that she want- was angry when she
an’s wealthy mother at a get a cut of the mother’s understood he could face ed him to come over and kill learned her daughter was
beach resort in Indonesia, inheritance, according to life in prison, Bibbs quietly her right away. “She wants pregnant, prompting him
with the criminal complaint the complaint, which was replied, “Yes, ma’am.” Sit- me to right now ... while she to strike her with metal fruit
describing how he used unsealed several hours af- ting nearby, his own mother snoozing,” Schaefer texted; bowl. The couple’s baby
text messages from the ter Bibbs’ arrest. shook her head in disbelief Bibbs; response, according girl, Stella, was born in pris-
United States to suggest He is charged in feder- when a prosecutor said her to the complaint, was: “Go on in March. Von Wiese-
son was accused in a mur- sit on her face wit a pillow.” Mack was the widow of
der conspiracy. Bibbs will In communicating the highly regarded jazz and
remain jailed at least until overdose hadn’t worked, classical composer James
a Friday detention hearing. Schaefer included a gun L. Mack, who died in 2006
Shortly before von Wiese- emoji, or symbol, adding, at the age of 76.q

US man convicted of theft for
failing to take care of corpses

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) ary drew attention in June
— A Texas funeral home 2014 with the announce-
owner whose business was ment of a planned reality
to be featured in a real- TV show, about running a
ity TV show was convicted funeral home and dealing
Wednesday of accepting with death on a daily basis.
money to care for bod- The business closed the fol-
ies but failing to do so be- lowing month due to non-
fore the mortuary abruptly payment of rent. Investiga-
closed. tors who later went through
Deondre Johnson was the mortuary found several
convicted on two felony bodies in advanced stag-
theft counts by a Tarrant es of decomposition, with
County jury. He faced up some remains difficult to
to two years in state jail for identify.
theft. He’s expected to be Johnson accepted pay-
tried later on seven counts ment then failed to pro-
of abuse of a corpse in the vide services such as
same case. cremation, according to
The Johnson Family Mortu- prosecutors.q