Crime House 24/7 – Episode Summary
Episode: American Convicted in Bali “Suitcase Murder” Faces Court in U.S.
Date: February 26, 2026
Host: Vanessa Richardson
Overview
This episode, hosted by Vanessa Richardson, delivers up-to-the-minute coverage of major, developing true-crime cases. The central focus is the dramatic new legal phase in the infamous “Bali Suitcase Murder” case, as convicted American Tommy Schaefer, recently deported to the U.S., prepares to face conspiracy and murder charges in federal court. The episode also covers:
- The conclusion of a high-profile Memphis pastor’s murder trial
- Updates on a tragic mistaken-identity kidnapping and murder in Sydney, Australia
- New charges in the case of a Florida teen found dead on a Caribbean cruise
The episode closes with a historical exploration of the “Black Widow” archetype in serial killer history.
Main Story: The Bali Suitcase Murder – Tommy Schaefer Deported, Faces U.S. Trial
Background & Developments
[02:19]
- Tommy Schaefer, now 32, has been deported from Indonesia to the U.S. after serving 11+ years of an 18-year sentence for the 2014 murder of Sheila von Wiese-Mack.
- The murder, dubbed the Bali Suitcase Murder, occurred at the St. Regis resort. Von Wiese-Mack’s body was found in a suitcase in a taxi trunk.
- Schaefer’s girlfriend, Heather Mack (von Wiese-Mack’s daughter, then 19 and pregnant) was convicted as an accomplice.
Key Details:
- Indonesian law mandates deportation for foreign nationals after serving their terms.
- U.S. federal prosecutors are now pursuing charges of conspiracy to kill a U.S. national abroad, murder, and victim tampering, given that the victim was an American citizen.
Evidence & Motive
[03:40]
- Prosecutors built a case of premeditation:
- Incriminating texts showed Mack and Schaefer discussing “how and when” to kill von Wiese-Mack.
- Mack encouraged Schaefer and helped restrain her mother.
- The motive: access to a $1.5 million trust fund.
- Both confessed roles in the murder; Schaefer received 18 years, Mack 10 years in Indonesian prison.
- Both initially faced potential execution by firing squad.
U.S. Legal Proceedings
[06:05]
- Mack was deported in October 2021 and, after pleading guilty, sentenced to 26 years in U.S. federal court (Jan 2024).
- Schaefer is scheduled for initial arraignment in Chicago federal court on February 26, 2026.
- Federal charges could mean a much longer sentence, potentially life.
Notable Quotes
-
Vanessa Richardson:
“Schaefer’s release from Karobakan does not mark the end of the legal drama. It marks a new phase in the United States, prosecutors will argue, federal conspiracy charges that could result in a lengthy or even life prison term if he is convicted.” (03:04)
-
On the mother-daughter relationship:
“Officers responded to the family home more than 80 times for domestic disturbances and related calls… von Wiese-Mack had told officers she feared her daughter and worried the escalating conflict could one day turn deadly.” (06:58)
Timestamps
- [02:19] Deportation and opening legal context
- [03:40] The evidence against Schaefer and Mack
- [05:01] Indonesian trial and sentencing
- [06:05] U.S. federal prosecution and outcomes for Heather Mack
- [06:58] Deep background on the mother-daughter relationship
Case 2: Memphis Pastor Murder – Sentencing in a Deadly Affair
[07:47]
- Latasha Daniels sentenced to 20 years for second-degree murder in the 2019 shooting death of pastor Broads Perry.
- Perry was shot outside his home following the end of an affair with Daniels that began in counseling.
- Daniels claimed Perry led her to believe his wife accepted the relationship, supported by proposals of a “sister wives” dynamic (as denied by the widow).
- The jury found Daniels guilty of second-degree, not first-degree, murder—insufficient pre-planning was found.
- Daniels apologized in court, “I know what I did.” (11:33)
- Perry’s family testified to the “lasting devastation” caused by his death.
Timestamps
- [07:55] Charges and sentencing details
- [09:06] Daniels’ testimony and relationship context
- [10:54] Courtroom statements, verdict, and sentencing
Case 3: Sydney Grandfather Kidnapping – Mistaken Identity Leads to Murder
[13:41]
- Chris Bogsarian, 85, kidnapped and killed in what appears to be a case of mistaken identity in northwest Sydney.
- Two men, Gerard Andrews (29) and Daniel Stevens (24), were arrested after human remains were found.
- Target was allegedly a neighbor's father, a known criminal—Bogsarian had no criminal ties.
- Dramatic neighbor witness quote:
“The screaming just kept on going and then it was muffled, so I ended up looking outside... saw the guy popping into his car and fleeing off.” – Felix Cho (14:33)
- Police: Investigation ongoing; suspects charged with kidnapping and murder.
Timestamps
- [13:41] Discovery and first details
- [14:33] Eyewitness account from neighbor Felix Cho
- [15:15] Police actions, suspects identified and arrested
Case 4: Florida Teen’s Cruise Ship Death – Stepbrother Charged
[16:55]
- 18-year-old Anna Kepner found dead in her cruise cabin (Nov 2025), asphyxiated, with bruising on her neck—her 16-year-old stepbrother has been charged with homicide.
- Family vacation aboard Carnival Horizon; the case falls under U.S. federal jurisdiction as the death occurred in international waters.
- Legal proceedings largely sealed due to the suspect’s age.
Spotlight Feature: The “Black Widow” Serial Killer Archetype
[19:59] – [31:13]
- A historical deep dive into women who murdered partners for financial or personal gain, often through deception or poison.
- Cases covered:
- Belle Gunness: Early 1900s American “widow” who lured men to her farm and killed them for their money; possibly faked her own death.
“Belle Gunness remains one of the most mysterious early American serial killers, blending financial motive with calculated manipulation inside intimate relationships.” (22:45)
- Mary Ann Cotton: 19th-century British poisoner, executed in 1873; spouses and children died under suspicious, insurance-motivated circumstances.
- Nanny Doss (“Giggling Granny”): Confessed to multiple family murders with arsenic, disturbingly cheerful during interrogation.
“Her nickname, the Giggling Granny, came from her unsettling demeanor during questioning. She reportedly laughed and appeared detached while describing the deaths.” (25:40)
- Blanche Taylor Moore: Convicted in North Carolina through modern toxicology; used arsenic to kill multiple lovers for control and sympathy.
- Stacy Castor: Used antifreeze to murder, framed her own daughter; “The Black Widow of New York.”
- Belle Gunness: Early 1900s American “widow” who lured men to her farm and killed them for their money; possibly faked her own death.
- The unifying thread: how domestic intimacy and trust enable long-term, often undetected, predatory violence.
Notable Quotes
- Vanessa Richardson:
“The label black widow may be dramatic, but the crimes behind it share common elements: intimacy, trust, and calculated control. These cases remind us that some of the most dangerous predators are not strangers. They are partners, spouses, caregivers.” (30:10)
Timestamps
- [22:45] Belle Gunness
- [24:00] Mary Ann Cotton
- [25:05] Nanny Doss
- [26:50] Blanche Taylor Moore
- [28:44] Stacy Castor
Memorable Moments
- “The violence in Bali did not emerge from nowhere… von Wiese-Mack had told officers she feared her daughter and worried the escalating conflict could one day turn deadly.” (06:58)
- The emotional tension in the Memphis courtroom as Daniels said: “I know what I did.” (11:33)
- The chilling ordinary nature of the “Black Widow” crimes—“They unfold in kitchens, bedrooms, and hospital rooms… under the cover of intimacy.” (29:16)
Summary Table of Key Cases
| Case | Time | Key Point | |------------------------------------------------|--------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | Bali Suitcase Murder (Tommy Schaefer) | 02:19–07:27 | Deportation to U.S., new federal charges | | Memphis Pastor Murder (Latasha Daniels) | 07:47–12:23 | Sentenced for deadly affair shooting | | Sydney Grandfather Kidnapping | 13:41–16:51 | Mistaken identity leads to murder charges | | Florida Cruise Teen Death | 16:55–19:29 | Stepbrother charged in cruise cabin attack | | Black Widow Serial Killers (Feature) | 19:59–31:13 | Notorious women who killed intimates for gain |
Tone & Approach
Vanessa Richardson delivers the news in a clear, urgent, and sensitive tone, balancing factual reporting with compassion for victims and context for audiences new to these headline cases. The “Black Widow” feature is analytical and haunting, providing historical resonance with contemporary lessons about trust and hidden danger.
For a deep dive, listen to the full episode or visit Crime House 24/7 online.