A pregnant American teenager and her boyfriend who are accused of murdering her mother and stuffing her body in a suitcase have been placed on suicide watch by prison officials, police said Wednesday. Heather Lois Mack, 19, and her 21-year-old boyfriend Tommy Schaefer allegedly bludgeoned Mack’s mother to death at a luxury resort on Indonesia’s holiday island of Bali. The body of 62-year-old Sheila Von Weise Mack has already left Bali for Chicago where she lived. Bali police spokesman Hery Wiyanto told Reuters Wednesday the suspects were depressed and on suicide watch. "Their mental state is checked every day," Wiyanto said. "Tommy seems better, but as they both continue to refuse to speak it is difficult."
Mack and Schaefer have not talked with police or local legal officials and have only released statements of their innocence through a Chicago-based lawyer, who is expected to arrive in Bali later this week. They have also alleged mistreatment while in custody. Under Indonesia’s legal system defendants can be detained for several months while police gather evidence and are only charged when the case comes to court.
IN-DEPTH
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- Alexander Smith
Reuters contributed to this report