LEE COUNTY, Fla. (Court TV) — A Florida man convicted in the murder of his wife is fighting to have his conviction and death sentence overturned.
In 2019, Mark Sievers was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy in the death of Dr. Teresa Sievers. Her body was found in the family’s Bonita Springs home in June 2015. She had been beaten to death with a hammer.
Mark Sievers appears in court for his post-conviction relief hearing Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (Court TV)
Court TV’s Trial Archives | FL v. Mark Sievers: Hammer Killing Murder Trial
Prosecutors argued Mark enlisted the help of longtime friend Curtis Wright and hitman Jimmy Rodgers to kill Teresa. Prosecutors argued Mark planned his wife’s murder for life insurance money and custody of their two daughters, enlisting the help of longtime friend Curtis Wright. Wright then traveled to Missouri to hire Rodgers as a hitman and brought him back to Southwest Florida.
Wright took a plea deal and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Rodgers was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
In 2022, Mark unsuccessfully fought to have his conviction and sentence overturned when the Supreme Court of Florida voted to uphold both after he filed an appeal. A previous request for a new trial was denied in 2020.
Arguments in Mark’s post-conviction relief hearing took place on Oct. 13 and 14 in Lee County.
DAILY UPDATES
DAY 2 – 10/14/25
- Alicia Cadena (DNA analyst):
- Testified about 2018 lab work on evidence from the case
- No blood detected on backpack; DNA sample from arm strap showed mix of at least three individuals with one male contributor but not suitable for comparison
- No blood or DNA detected on blue coveralls during analysis
- Cannot determine if Jimmy Ray Rodgers or Taylor Shomaker’s DNA was present on the backpack
- Explained that lack of DNA doesn’t mean items weren’t handled or worn by suspects
- Joseph Thomas (forensic analyst):
- Had limited involvement with defense team – one phone conference and email communications
- Logged 47.2 hours reviewing crime scene photos, depositions, FBI reports, and other materials
- Concluded Teresa Sievers was brutally attacked with a hammer, with most injuries occurring while she was down low
- Found evidence didn’t confirm or refute conspiracy allegations
- Noted pry marks on side door didn’t necessarily look like forced entry
- Questioned burglary theory since valuables were left in open
- Ralph Tressel (forensic investigator):
- Reviewed crime scene to scrutinize Curtis Wright’s testimony for corroboration
- Identified initial attack location from garage to kitchen area
- Found some corroboration but also questionable elements in Wright’s account
- No pry marks at deadbolt, indicating door had to be open
- Couldn’t corroborate which pry bar was used for door damage
- Wright claimed Jimmy Rodgers used claw of ball-peen hammer for final blow, but autopsy shows no injuries consistent with claw marks
- Teresa Sievers’ purse location inconsistent with Wright’s testimony
- Driver’s license found on top of blood suggests scene manipulation
- Jennifer Wood (former paralegal):
- Worked at Faga Law Firm which represented Mark Sievers
- Firm handled multiple proceedings including criminal, dependency, and civil matters
- Difficulty finding death-qualified mitigation specialist:
- First hire (Cynthia O’Shea) had billing issues with JAC
- Second mitigation specialist (Donna Murray) left case citing insufficient time before trial
- Jeff Giordano became final mitigation specialist
- Attended Jimmy Ray Rodgers’ trial and took notes for preparation
- Defense team used Colorado method for jury selection with mock jury practice
- Last-minute decision by attorney not to use prepared PowerPoint presentation for mitigation phase
- Jennie Weckelman (Sievers’ stepmother):
- Testified that Mark lived with her from ages 10-12 and 16-17 and they had a close relationship
- Met with defense attorney Messore only twice, Mummert 3-4 times, but mostly worked with legal assistant Jennifer Wood
- Was not well-prepared for testimony and found the mitigation concept vague and complicated
- Helped put together a slideshow about Mark’s life and provided photographs for the defense presentation
- Still considers Mark her son and confirmed he received family support as both child and adult
- Bonnie Sievers (Sievers’ biological mother):
- Was not informed about what she would be testifying to at the original trial
- Defense team suggested something traumatic happened to Mark in childhood, which she disputed as untrue
- Primarily worked with legal assistant Jennifer Wood rather than the attorneys
- Testified that Mark had a normal, loving childhood in a stable home
- Described Mark as a caring person and excellent father who loved his daughters and was loved by them
- Jimmy Rodgers (convicted hitman) testfied that he:
- Met Curtis Wright in Missouri county jail when Rodgers was 20 years old
- Maintained friendship with Wright after prison through pen pal correspondence
- Used Wright’s address as approved home plan upon release from federal prison
- First met Mark Sievers at Wright’s wedding in May 2015
- Immediately disliked Sievers, found him arrogant and trying to “one-up” others
- Wright told Rodgers he had secret homosexual relationship with Sievers dating back to teenage years
- Wright claimed their Florida trips were ways to maintain this secret relationship
- Wright used second phone allegedly to communicate secretly with Sievers
- Angela Wright (Curtis’s wife) allegedly questioned Curtis about being gay
- Wright initially asked Rodgers to accompany him to Florida for computer work and painting at Sievers’ house
- Rodgers initially declined due to baby shower plans
- Told multiple people openly about the Florida trip plans
- Brought painting supplies, coveralls, and work equipment
- Wright arrived late and appeared high on Adderall obtained from Mark Sievers’ former stepson
- Wright never mentioned any plan to commit murder
- At the Sievers’ home, Wright had garage and alarm codes to enter house
- Found house empty, Wright called for Mark and dogs by name
- Wright said they had to leave because no one was home
- Later learned Wright had confused timing of their visit with Sievers family trip
- Spent day at beach, went to Walmart for supplies
- Returned to Sievers house around 10:30 PM
- Parked openly in driveway, Rodgers smoked cigarette outside
- Teresa Sievers arrived in van, immediately confrontational with Wright
- Heated argument in garage near deep freezer
- Wright grabbed hammer and struck Teresa in face
- Teresa ran toward kitchen, Wright chased her with Rodgers following
- Wright grabbed Teresa by hair, threw her to ground near kitchen island
- Wright repeatedly struck Teresa in back of head with hammer while she was down
- Entire attack lasted approximately 30 seconds
- Wright continued hitting Teresa after she went limp
- Wright then threatened Rodgers with hammer, eyes filled with tears
- Wright said they needed to make it look like burglary gone wrong
- Wright dumped Teresa’s luggage contents around house
- Rodgers wiped fingerprints from garage door and motorcycle handlebars
- Found Wright continuing to hit Teresa’s body and calling her names
- Rodgers told Wright “F*** this, I’m out of here”
- On the way back to Missouri, Wright threatened Rodgers and Taylor if they went to police
- Rodgers claims he told his attorneys the truth from 2016 but they advised against cooperation
- Prosecutors allegedly only interested in stories that supported case against Mark Sievers
- Rodgers wrote letter to Teresa’s mother claiming Mark’s innocence
- Has pending motion seeking new trial and maintains he had no motive to kill Teresa Sievers and was not part of conspiracy
- MORE: Convicted killer says Mark Sievers wasn’t involved in his wife’s murder
DAY 1 – 10/13/25
- Kathleen Fitzgeorge (Chief Assistant Public Defender, trial counsel for Jimmy Ray Rodgers):
- Decision to sever Rodgers’ and Sievers’ cases was tactical – felt it was best course for their client
- Defense strategy was that Rodgers didn’t really know Sievers, but Wright had known Sievers for years and was obsessed with him
- Characterized Michael Mummert’s (Sievers’ trial attorney) work as “very thorough,” but said she would not say the same about Greg Messore
- Did not collaborate with Messore and rarely saw him in the courtroom
- Confirmed Rodgers sent a letter to Sievers’ mother in December 2020
- Michael Mummert (lead trial counsel for Mark Sievers):
- Initially retained for dependency case, then criminal case when it became death-eligible
- Case started as second-degree murder, became capital case
- Greg Messore offered his capital-case qualification to supplement the defense team
- Messore handled mitigation while Mummert handled guilt phase due to his trial experience
- Hired mitigation specialist Jeff Giordano
- Initially tried jointly with Rodgers case before severance
- Felt forensic evidence was more prejudicial than probative for Sievers’ case
- Sievers’ case focused on conspiracy and phone communications rather than forensic evidence
- Used estate planning attorney as expert; jury found murder was not committed for pecuniary gain
- Consulted with Dr. Underwood who ran psychological tests on Sievers
- Considered but decided against change of venue motion due to uncertainty of where case would land
- Theory was that Curtis Wright was the actual murderer and only person “swinging the hammer”
- Wright was government’s star witness with advantageous plea deal
- Wright gave five separate inconsistent statements that were mutually exclusive
- Believed Wright was infatuated with Sievers based on text messages with pet names and sexual references
- There was written stipulation not to go into Wright’s alleged sexual relationship with Sievers
- WATCH: Mark Sievers’ Former Attorney: ‘Infatuated’ Curtis Wright Was Killer
- Learned after trial that Rodgers had changed his story
- Evidence was stored on CDs and manually stored at office
- Spent over 1,000 hours on the case
- Believed Sievers family was financially stable, not in dire trouble
- Became emotional during testimony, stating he feels he failed despite doing everything he could
- Watched Rodgers’ trial on TV while doing last-minute prep for Sievers’ case
- Did not order transcripts of Rodgers’ trial
- Gregory Messore (co-counsel on Sievers’ trial team):
- Death-qualified for long period but not currently, hasn’t kept up on CLEs
- Reached out to join case around 2017 after seeing media reports about capital counsel issues
- Worked on case without pay
- Role was to assist in penalty phase primarily
- Met regularly with trial team in Mummert’s offices
- Received sizable portion of discovery but not all of it
- Attended some depositions
- Did not draft motions but had input
- Met with Sievers approximately six times
- Discussed penalty phase process with Sievers, decided not to call daughters as witnesses
- Penalty phase focused on Sievers’ exceptional traits and role as a father
- Mental health expert was consulted for penalty phase
- Presentation was created for penalty phase describing Sievers’ family life
- Replaced one mitigation investigator due to communication breakdown
- Felt he had necessary support and staff for penalty phase
- Testified that Sievers was very bright and did not present as damaged or broken
- Believed there was enough time to prepare defense over 3.5 years
- Cannot think of anything he would have done differently except possibly calling daughters
- Donna Murray, private investigator and mitigation specialist:
- Worked at the Public Defender’s office from 2007-2013, before ultimately starting her own agency in 2017
- Appointed as mitigation specialist on Sievers’ case in 2018 through a phone call from his attorney, though she learned about her appointment when a Miami colleague saw her name on the court docket
- Murray met with Sievers once at jail and found him pleasant and cooperative, answering all her questions
- She never received case records despite being sent a Dropbox link that was empty; was shown a room with banker’s boxes at the attorney’s office but never actually received the materials
- Murray requested the defense team file for a continuance because three months was insufficient time to conduct a proper mitigation investigation
- The defense team refused to file for continuance, insisting the case would go to trial as scheduled
- Murray sent several emails to the defense team (Wood, Mummert, and Messore) trying to get information, most of which went unanswered
- Murray ultimately resigned from the case due to lack of communication and insufficient time to complete the work properly
- During cross-examination, she acknowledged she could have scheduled appointments to review the boxes of materials but didn’t attempt to start investigation beyond what she already had
- She stated she wanted to work on a case with death-qualified attorneys but was learning the defense team was not death-qualified
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