UPDATE (6 PM) -- The Jury has recommended the death penalty for Mark Sievers in the death of his wife, Teresa Sievers.
It was an emotional day as friends and family gave their victim impact statements.
The state and the defense rested their case and made their closing arguments.
The jury deliberated nearly three hours before they made their decision.
Sievers now has a Spencer Hearing scheduled for January 9th, 2020.
#BREAKING: the jury verdict is in.
— Sandra Rodriguez (@SandraR_media) December 10, 2019
Jury has recommended Mark Sievers be sentenced to death.
Judge Bruce Kyle is reading the jury instructions. Here is a picture of the verdict form jurors will need to fill out. pic.twitter.com/bgwfpYlJm7
— Sandra Rodriguez (@SandraR_media) December 10, 2019
UPDATE (3 PM) -- Both the state and defense have rested their case, and closing arguments have been made. Judge Kyle is preparing the jury for deliberations.
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UPDATE (12 PM) -- Judge Kyle asked Mark Sievers if he would be taking the stand. Sievers said he would like to "remain silent."
The court is breaking for lunch, will resume at 1:30 pm.
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UPDATE (11:55 AM) -- The next defense witness is Jennie Weckelman, she is Mark Sievers's stepmother.
Weckelman says she visits Mark Sievers in prison every week.
— Sandra Rodriguez (@SandraR_media) December 10, 2019
"I love my stepson," said Weckelman.
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UPDATE (11:30 AM) -- The next defense witness is Connie Reiss, she is Mark Sievers' step-sister.
Reiss says aside from being step-siblings there were also good friends.
Reiss says she has maintained communication with Mark Sievers since his incarceration.
— Sandra Rodriguez (@SandraR_media) December 10, 2019
Emotionally, Reiss says she loves her brother with all her heart.
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UPDATE (11:20 AM) -- Next on the stand is Scott Sievers. He is Mark's younger brother.
He says Mark Sievers would "brag" about his daughters in every conversation they had. He says Mark was a very proud, loving father.
Scott Sievers says all of his siblings, including Mark, were close.
— Sandra Rodriguez (@SandraR_media) December 10, 2019
Their older sister passed away from graves diseases.
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UPDATE (11:00 AM) -- Following the brief recess, the defense called Bonnie Sievers to the stand, Mark's mother.
Bonnie Sievers says Mark was always trying to do things for others.
— Sandra Rodriguez (@SandraR_media) December 10, 2019
She shared a story of Mark working and saving his allowance to buy his sister a pair of earrings that she really wanted.
Bonnie says Mark was a very hands-on stay at home dad. Adding, that Mark was very involved in the girls' school activities. "He, along with Teresa, always thought them about virtues on what is right and what is wrong," said Bonnie.
Bonnie says the Sievers' daughters would stay with her on weekends when Mark Sievers got arrested. She says the girls would write to Mark and Mark would write to the girls. Bonnies says the girls would get excited to receive letters from Mark.
Since Mark Sievers's arrest on Feb. 26, 2016, Bonnie says she has visited him every week, sometimes twice a week. Bonnie says she loves her son very much. "He's my baby, he's my son, I will always be there for him," said Bonnie.
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UPDATE (10:30 AM) -- The state has rested its case, after a recess, the defense will begin with their witnesses, who we now know are Mark Sievers's family.
Groves says the two Sievers's daughters have been robbed of a remarkable mother.
— Sandra Rodriguez (@SandraR_media) December 10, 2019
Her daughters will miss their mother on every birthday and on their wedding day, said Groves.
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UPDATE (9:45 AM) -- The first state witness is Dr. Teresa Sievers's mother, Mary Ann Groves. The state had requested the court allow two of Groves's children to stand with her at the stand for support, but Judge Kyle denied the request.
Groves says Teresa was a "powerful force" determined to change the world.
— Sandra Rodriguez (@SandraR_media) December 10, 2019
"I would always call her my modern-day mother Teresa," said Groves.
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FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The penalty phase in the trial against Mark Sievers is now under way. This phase will decide his fate.
Last week, a jury found Mark Sievers guilty of orchestrating the murder of his wife, Dr. Teresa Sievers, back in 2015.
Prosecutors started their opening statements saying they will be presenting two aggravating factors. Assistant State Attorney Cynthia Ross says this murder was done in a cold calculated matter, with a financial motive.
ASA Ross says this murder was done without moral or legal justification.
— Sandra Rodriguez (@SandraR_media) December 10, 2019
"This murder was done after calm and cool reflection," said Ross, adding that this was premeditated murder.
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