GUILTY Bali - Sheila von Wiese Mack, 62, found dead in suitcase, 12 Aug 2014 #5

[Kamille]

Could not have written this better, Kamille. I can't believe the way HM's needs are met over and over again at the expense of this innocent baby Stella.


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Yes, I'm sure we could add a lot more names to FigTree's list...all of whom have been manipulated by HM in one way or another and none of whom put Stella's interests first IMO.

 

[Kamille]

Glad to see that the FBI are continuing the investigation in the US...

Feds in Chicago are searching Heather Mack’s cell phone

Federal agents in Chicago are continuing their investigation of the 2014 murder of Sheila Von Wiese-Mack by her daughter, Heather Mack.

A search warrant unsealed Friday shows a federal magistrate judge in January signed off on a warrant to search data on an iPhone FBI investigators believe belonged to Heather Mack. It is hoped data from the phone might point them to others who helped Mack and her boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, plot the murder.

[...]

Schaefer and Mack, who are serving prison sentences in Indonesia for the murder, have not been charged with any crime in the U.S., but investigators believe there may be more information about Von Wiese Mack’s murder on an iPhone recovered by Indonesian authorities that apparently has never been unlocked by investigators.

Indonesian officials in the fall of 2016 gave the FBI two iPhones recovered when Schaefer and Mack were arrested, though only Schaefer’s phone was unlocked by investigators ahead of their trial in Indonesia, according to the warrant.

The warrant states the FBI intends to either hack the iPhone or get information from Apple that will allow them to comb through data on the phone to find text messages, location information and even photos that could lead to other people involved in the murder, noting investigators only learned about Bibbs’ role in the killing from information on Schaefer’s phone.

http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/feds-in-chicago-are-searching-heather-macks-cell-phone/

Interesting that only TS's phone was unlocked by officials in Indonesia. I wonder how they got the passcode? And why not HM's? I guess that's another thing that 200 grand buys you.

 

[Kamille]

Meanwhile RB has been spending a lot of time violating his bail conditions while "living like it's golden". Just lock him up already...20 years.

Bibbs appeared in court Friday for a hearing on his plea deal with prosecutors; at the hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Bolling Haxall complained that Bibbs had flunked nine drug tests while free on bond in his case. Bibbs’ attorney, Donna Ann Hickstein Foley, told U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer that Bibbs had been smoking marijuana heavily, but had been clean since failing his last drug test on Feb. 2. Pallmeyer said she would wait to rule on Bibbs’ violation of his pre-trial release conditions until after reviewing a report on treatment options for Bibbs.

At his change of plea hearing, Bibbs said he never believed his cousin would actually go through with Von Wiese Mack’s murder, even after months of exchanging messages with the couple in which he suggested various means of killing the Chicago socialite.

Bibbs admitted that he turned down an offer of $50,000 from Mack to kill Von Wiese Mack himself, though he thought he would get a share of Von Wiese Mack’s fortune, which Mack believed was about $11 million. The actual size of Von Wiese Mack’s estate is closer to $1.5 million, prosecutors have said.

http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/feds-in-chicago-are-searching-heather-macks-cell-phone/

https://www.facebook.com/ryan.labelhead

:notgood:

 

[Kamille]

FBI still investigating if others involved in murder of Heather Mack's mother

The FBI is actively investigating whether "additional people" were involved in a conspiracy by Heather Mack and her then-boyfriend to murder Mack's mother during a luxury vacation in Bali, a court filing made public Friday revealed.

The disclosure came in a search warrant seeking to extract information from Mack's iPhone, which was confiscated after her arrest in Bali in 2014 but remained locked because she refused to give investigators her password, court records show

Federal prosecutors had asked that the search warrant remain sealed, but U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez denied the request on Thursday.

Despite the couple's conviction, the warrant makes clear that the investigation into the murder continues — in part "to determine whether additional people may have been aware of and involved in the conspiracy."
.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...-murder-investigation-met-20170310-story.html

Lots more info at that link as well as a recap of events so far.

Once again they make reference to a "deal" that the lawyers are trying to hammer out with HM with regards to the trust. So far unsuccessfully. Why do they need to hammer out a deal with her? :waitasec:

 

[Kamille]

The confirmation of an ongoing federal investigation comes a year and a half after the Chicago Tribune first revealed that U.S. authorities had flown Indonesian law enforcement officials to Chicago at least twice in 2015 to answer questions about the murder.

Besides the murder itself, the victim's family has long questioned whether the daughter's $1.56 million trust fund might have been accessed to illegally bribe Indonesian officials during the criminal proceedings, the Tribune has reported.

The FBI, which has an office in the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, was involved in the murder investigation from the onset. Besides ensuring that the victim's body was flown back to the United States, federal agents assisted Bali police with technical support related to texts and emails on phones that belonged to the victim and Schaefer, records show.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...-murder-investigation-met-20170310-story.html

 

[Kamille]

I wonder if the "squad" is getting nervous?

 

[Weezer Fan]

Meanwhile RB has been spending a lot of time violating his bail conditions while "living like it's golden". Just lock him up already...20 years.



http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/feds-in-chicago-are-searching-heather-macks-cell-phone/

https://www.facebook.com/ryan.labelhead

:notgood:

I was reading RB Facebook last night. Seems he got into some kind of disagreement with some women that went to the police. Didn't seem like anything came if it.

Treatment options? He gets sentenced later this month! Why in the world would they look at treatment options for marijuana? If you ask me, he's just partying before he goes to the pokey. If not smoking dope was a condition of his home arrest/parole or whatever you call it, why not just haul him in front of the judge and sentence home immediately?

For the iphones, I remember that they were able to access TS's phone immediately after the arrest. I don't remember if it did not have a passcode or TS had given it to them. I do remember that HM refused to give them the passcode. Seriously wondering why the FBI just got her iPhone last fall. Don't you remember in court the Indonesians said text messages could be easily manipulated? Therefore they tried to throw that evidence out.

As a sidenote, I remember reading the FBI report that charged Bibbs. It included all the texts between TS and RB. It also said they had other evidence in the case, but this was about Bibbs so that was what was included in that report.


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[Weezer Fan]

I guess this does explain why the slayer statute is taking so long to conclude. There is still an ongoing investigation into the murder of SVW. Also, this further explains HM's comments about potentially being charged with conspiracy in the US. Bring it!!!

I also wonder what the Indonesian officials involved in this fiasco think. I think they are about to be exposed. The article said they had been flown to the US twice in 2015. The article also stated that the family had concerns about the money that was sent being used to bribe officials.


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[Weezer Fan]

So back to Stella, let's say she is forced to stay in Indonesia where she can visit her murderous mother in hotel K for the next eight years. Then her mother gets out of jail, thinking she can be reunited with her 10-year-old daughter. But she gets shipped off to the US and faces conspiracy charges, is found guilty, and this "loving mother" gets sent to jail again. What happens to Stella then?

She would be 10 years old, and lived in Bali her entire life, but is not an Indonesian citizen. I guess her father would still be in jail there. So maybe she could stay with the Australian couple until TS got out. What a flipping mess.

The child should have been returned to the US with KW when she was born. Then, she could have been adopted and no longer have been a pawn in this tragedy.


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[FigTree]

Meanwhile RB has been spending a lot of time violating his bail conditions while "living like it's golden". Just lock him up already...20 years.

https://www.facebook.com/ryan.labelhead

:notgood:

That Page went pretty quickly................ :abduction:

 

[FigTree]

I guess this does explain why the slayer statute is taking so long to conclude. There is still an ongoing investigation into the murder of SVW. Also, this further explains HM's comments about potentially being charged with conspiracy in the US. Bring it!!!

I also wonder what the Indonesian officials involved in this fiasco think. I think they are about to be exposed. The article said they had been flown to the US twice in 2015. The article also stated that the family had concerns about the money that was sent being used to bribe officials.


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I think the FBI are just collecting a mass of correspondence to use for evidence - not only from HM & TS's phones, but also their (so called) friends phones and any other postings they all have made which is out there in 'WWW.Land' and beyond.
If reports are true about the data collection arm of the FBI, and the ability to get phones unlocked and retrieve data - then it would not surprise me if the FBI had the data first and then needed the phone second.
And others who knew SvWM were/are adding to that data pile, and I think have been since the beginning.

The FBI has been involved in the case since HM was arrested.
There are a few reports which outline that the FBI gave evidence to the Bali Police to assist in the case, and that (the FBI) were following up on the case as it proceeded through the courts.
It was also the FBI who escorted Sheilas body back home to the USA from Indonesia.

Posted 16 Aug 2014
FBI joins Bali investigation into the death of Sheila von Wiese Mack whose body was found in a suitcase
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-16/fbi-joins-bali-investigation-into-body-in-suitcase/5676068
On Friday, a US Federal Bureau of Investigation agent arrived to assist with the investigation, Bali police said.
-----
"The FBI agent wanted to know about the developments of the police investigation, and he will also provide back-up for us," local police chief Djoko Hari Utomo said.
-----

 

[FigTree]

RSBM

For the iphones, I remember that they were able to access TS's phone immediately after the arrest. I don't remember if it did not have a passcode or TS had given it to them. I do remember that HM refused to give them the passcode. Seriously wondering why the FBI just got her iPhone last fall. Don't you remember in court the Indonesians said text messages could be easily manipulated? Therefore they tried to throw that evidence out.
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I think the FBI might be looking and collecting more than one phone of HM's - she seems to have a constant supply.
It would be very easy to collect all of HM's phones - she keeps posting about them when they're been confiscated.


iPhone of Bali suitcase murder teen suspect confiscated in LP Kerobokan
April 8, 2015
http://bali.coconuts.co/2015/04/08/iphone-bali-suitcase-murder-teen-suspect-confiscated-lp-kerobokan

Heather Mack got the attention of Kerobokan prison guards with her iPhone, reports Kompas.
The 19-year-old’s phone was confiscated on Sunday by an officer, according to Kompas.
“Yeah, I’ll buy another one,” Mack said, as quoted by Kompas.


:facepalm:

 

[BorderSam]

No one but Heather, Bibbs and Tommy could answer this but what are the feelings regarding the amount the Evil Troika figured Heather would get? These are not the smartest or anywhere near sophisticated of people (thinking they could get a passport at the airport from a customs agent for one thing) but surely they must realize that 1.5M wouldn't be enough to fund Tommy's rap career, Heather's drama career and support his "fam?"

Do you think Heather lied to Tommy and said it was 11M? Was it a typo? Could she really truly believe Sheila had that much? Really puzzles me. I think most likely scenario is Heather misled Tommy intending to dump him whenever convenient so didn't care. Plus she's a sociopath it seems so wouldn't bother her in the least. Tommy and Bibbs bought the BS; they're just not very bright.

 

[Weezer Fan]

I think HM thought there was more money. Remember this article?
https://www.google.com/amp/www.chic...eather-mack-money-met-20151208-story,amp.html

"Mack said "with all due respect" to her slain mother, she believes Sheila von Wiese-Mack lied and falsified court documents years earlier to gain control over a more substantial inheritance the daughter was due from her father's estate."....."But the fact of the matter is stolen money is stolen money. ... If a little digging is done, surely we can find out exactly where Sheila struck gold."

And to be honest, SVW seemed to live a lifestyle of someone who was worth much more. It was documented elsewhere that James Mack didn't have any money when he died, (which may have been set up that way because they were trying to make sure that his illegitimate son did not have a claim). The settlement from the cruise ship was something like $800,000. She sold her home in Oakpark for $650,000. Then she bought the condo downtown. It didn't seem that SWM had other funds, but if she did, they were not in the trust.

I have always thought that HM freaked out when she found out there was only $1.56 million in the trust.

Can't you just imagine how TS felt? He murdered someone for 1/11th of what he thought they were worth. Same for Bibbs. Serves them right!


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[Kamille]

I guess this does explain why the slayer statute is taking so long to conclude. There is still an ongoing investigation into the murder of SVW. Also, this further explains HM's comments about potentially being charged with conspiracy in the US. Bring it!!!

I also wonder what the Indonesian officials involved in this fiasco think. I think they are about to be exposed. The article said they had been flown to the US twice in 2015. The article also stated that the family had concerns about the money that was sent being used to bribe officials.


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I'd love to know what "deal" they are trying to make with HM. Obviously it is not a cut and dried case for the slayer statute, because HM was not convicted of the proper crime in Indonesia, even though the FBI was willing to provide evidence to the Indonesian investigators to show the premeditation and conspiracy of the crime. I can't imagine anyone is too pleased that those funds were released to Soenardi and bought HM that vague conviction. If only Judge Cohen had listened to WW and his attorneys on the subject of corruption in the court system over there.

I think that's why they were flown over twice in 2015. For them to get and provide info to the FBI prior to the trial. However they have nothing to do with the bribes that go on between attorneys and court officials so it didn't matter what investigators knew, the paid off prosecution set the parameters for what was presented in court. Which was lies and a request for leniency on HM's behalf. I wonder why the prosecution never appealed her sentence like they said they were going to do which is what AS asked for the lump sum of 200 grand for. It was not for HM to appeal her sentence, it was to defend against a prosecution appeal. Once he was denied the money, the prosecution never appealed. That's odd isn't it?

MOO

 

[Kamille]

That Page went pretty quickly................ :abduction:

Still there for me.

 

[Kamille]

I think the FBI are just collecting a mass of correspondence to use for evidence - not only from HM & TS's phones, but also their (so called) friends phones and any other postings they all have made which is out there in 'WWW.Land' and beyond.
If reports are true about the data collection arm of the FBI, and the ability to get phones unlocked and retrieve data - then it would not surprise me if the FBI had the data first and then needed the phone second.
And others who knew SvWM were/are adding to that data pile, and I think have been since the beginning.

The FBI has been involved in the case since HM was arrested.
There are a few reports which outline that the FBI gave evidence to the Bali Police to assist in the case, and that (the FBI) were following up on the case as it proceeded through the courts.
It was also the FBI who escorted Sheilas body back home to the USA from Indonesia.

Posted 16 Aug 2014
FBI joins Bali investigation into the death of Sheila von Wiese Mack whose body was found in a suitcase
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-16/fbi-joins-bali-investigation-into-body-in-suitcase/5676068
On Friday, a US Federal Bureau of Investigation agent arrived to assist with the investigation, Bali police said.
-----
"The FBI agent wanted to know about the developments of the police investigation, and he will also provide back-up for us," local police chief Djoko Hari Utomo said.
-----

I think the FBI are looking into whomever else HM was "conversing" with regarding her desire to either murder her mother or have her murdered by someone else. Maybe who else she may have offered up money to. People who perhaps should have come forward with info the minute HM and TS were arrested.

I think it's time for members of the "squad" to start getting nervous and to step up regarding their own knowledge of what HM was planning. Better they go to the FBI and work out a deal than to wait for them to come calling with cell phone proof of their conversations. Just ask RB.

And all of their info can be used in a case against HM for conspiracy to murder if and when she is ever deported back to the US. I wonder if the FBI is also working on a deal with Indonesia to make sure that happens?

MOO

 

[Kamille]

No one but Heather, Bibbs and Tommy could answer this but what are the feelings regarding the amount the Evil Troika figured Heather would get? These are not the smartest or anywhere near sophisticated of people (thinking they could get a passport at the airport from a customs agent for one thing) but surely they must realize that 1.5M wouldn't be enough to fund Tommy's rap career, Heather's drama career and support his "fam?"

Do you think Heather lied to Tommy and said it was 11M? Was it a typo? Could she really truly believe Sheila had that much? Really puzzles me. I think most likely scenario is Heather misled Tommy intending to dump him whenever convenient so didn't care. Plus she's a sociopath it seems so wouldn't bother her in the least. Tommy and Bibbs bought the BS; they're just not very bright.

I think we discussed this way back when and one of the things we discussed was the fact that the lawsuit against the cruise ship company was probably for way more than what the settlement actually was. So when SVWM told her daughter that they "won" the lawsuit, perhaps HM assumed that they had won the whole amount that they had sued for?

MOO

 

[Orange Tabby]

Some cuts made by me to Kamille's post.

As you have stated, this is just my opinion but I have read nothing that implies that Indonesia has officially taken jurisdiction over Stella and/or her custody arrangements and nothing to indicate that either US court has been in contact with anyone in a legal position in Indonesia to discuss it.

A few comments:

1. Most of the time, no state entity exercises jurisdiction over a child. A child is born, parents raise it, and the question of someone else becoming the child's caregiver does not arise.

Until Kia Walker went to court asking to raise Stella, this was our situation: no one challenged Heather's right to raise the child, so no jurisdictional questions were even on the table.

2. When Kia went to court in Chicago asking for the child, jurisdictional questions were only then triggered. What happened:

--Judge Cohen said that as a judge in chancery court, he had no jurisdiction. This seems unquestionably correct to me.

--Judge Sullivan questions whether she has jurisdiction. Based solely on what al66pine has posted here, I believe Sullivan is quite right to question this.

So if they don't have jurisdiction, on what legal basis do they have the right to "discuss" anything? That is the nub of the problem.

It appears to me that HM, the Australian couple and the Chicago based GAL have made the arrangements among themselves with the help of some charity organization and while it is possible that Stella has been granted an extended visa of some type, and everything has been done via legal channels, we haven't heard anything about that.

I agree that this is probably what has happened.

I'm not saying Judge Sullivan is ignoring any law. I'm just not sure that she is asking for the right information to determine what is in Stella's best interests here or that she's even asking for proof about whether the proper procedures have been adhered to in Indonesia.

But if she doesn't have jurisdiction, she's got no right to ask the questions.

Seems to me, once again in my opinion since we're lacking a lot of actual information, that both judges are content to let HM, a convicted accessory to murder doing 10 years in prison, call the shots as to what happens with Stella's guardianship for the next 8 years, with the approval of a US based GAL who is getting his info from some charity organization in Indonesia and trusting that the information he is receiving is accurate.

But that would be the case if Heather were in a US prison right now. The only difference would be that Stella wouldn't have been in the prison for two years.Absent some legal finding against her with respect to making a placement of her child, Heather would get to "call the shots."

If she had been incarcerated in the US, that would have helped Kia's case immeasurably, since she could go to the local court and petition for guardianship. But she could go to Indonesia tomorrow and do this. Presumably she can't afford this, but she hasn't been barred by Indonesia from such a legal action.

How can a GAL in Chicago vet an Australian couple in Indonesia?

I don't believe the Chicago GAL has any legal right, lacking jurisdiction, to do any vetting. I could be wrong. I hope I am wrong.

How is Stella staying in the country without citizenship? Has Indonesia taken jurisdiction of her custody situation and given her a visa to stay in the country? Would they deny a petition by the child's paternal grandmother to adhere to the wishes of a foreigner imprisoned in their country? And what will happen in 8 years when HM is released from prison? Will she be deported and will Stella be deported with her if KW's petition fails? ...

ETA: These are not questions directed at you OrangeTabby, just questions I have in general about this whole arrangement.

I don't know the answer to these questions.

 

[Orange Tabby]

It's frustrating trying to figure this case out because a lot of info is unavailable and we don't have specific legal experts to assist us.

One thing I like to do is look at legal cases with similarities to ours, to see what has happened in the past.

I've recently made several posts about a Slayer case: "Mueller."

In that case, the murderer pleaded guilty. She admitted in open court to her role in the murder.

She did not lose custody of her two children and when she got out of prison the child who was still a minor resumed living with her.

This was an Illinois case.