FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Emotions were running high in a Fort Myers courtroom Tuesday as the mother of murder victim Teresa Sievers testified in the penalty phase for the man responsible for her death.
Mark Sievers was convicted of murder last week for hiring two men to kill his wife Teresa in 2015.
The penalty phase began Tuesday, and the state's only witness on the stand was Mary Ann Groves, Teresa's mother.
Groves began emotionally reading a statement recapping the weekend before Teresa's murder, in which the who family had gathered out of town. Groves said she no longer likes to take pictures with all her children because "her Teresa" is missing.
Groves said Teresa was a "powerful force" determined to change the world. "I would always call her my modern-day Mother Teresa," said Groves.
Groves said the two Sievers daughters have been robbed of a remarkable mother, and her daughters will miss their mother on every birthday and on their wedding day.
"We will miss her every day for the rest of our lives," said Groves.
Mark Sievers became emotional throughout the testimony and as he listened to Groves talk about the way Teresa Sievers would go above and beyond for her patients. He appeared to be nodding his head, agreeing with what Groves is saying.
