Suvechha Sarkar
In June 2015, the quiet neighborhood of Bonita Springs, Florida, was rocked to its core by the brutal and heartbreaking murder of Dr. Teresa Ann Grace Tottenham Sievers. She was a well-respected holistic physician, devoted mother, and beloved community member. Initially, it was considered a break-in. However, it soon turned into a homicide investigation as evidence pointed toward a chilling plot disturbingly close to home. NBC’s ‘Dateline: The Road Trip’ exposes a complex web of betrayal and murder-for-hire. It also features interviews with officials and the loved ones who were involved in this gruesome case.
Teresa Sievers Was a Devoted Mother and a Pioneer in Holistic Wellness
The daughter of John E. Tottenham and Mary Ann Groves, Teresa Ann Grace Tottenham was born on November 18, 1968, in Derby in New Haven County, Connecticut. Her parents later separated, and her mom moved on to start a new life with Thomas Groves. However, she grew up in a loving household, surrounded by the affection of her parents and siblings. Teresa had two brothers, Patrick J. Tottenham and Frank S. Longobardi, and three sisters – Annie Tottenham Lisa, Nim Tottenham, and Dr. Dawn Tottenham. Teresa always demonstrated exceptional compassion, which later defined her career. After graduating from Ansonia High School in 1986, she earned a Master of Science in Biology in 1990. She then graduated from Ross University School of Medicine in 1996.
Teresa began her residency at the University of Florida Health in Jacksonville. Besides earning her title – Resident of the Year, she also became certified in Internal Medicine. In 2003, Teresa met Mark D Sievers, and their connection quickly blossomed into something more. They soon got engaged and shared their vows in a romantic beach wedding. In 2006, the duo moved to Bonita Springs, Florida, and eventually welcomed their two little daughters, Josephine Edie and Carmela Louise Sievers. Side-by-side, Teresa continued her professional journey. She founded her practice, Restorative Health and Healing Centre, in the Estero Medical Center. Simultaneously, she also served as the clinical faculty at Naples Community Hospital and the University of South Florida College of Medicine.
Since Teresa was passionate about holistic care, she continued her academic journey and achieved Board Certification and the American Academy of Anti-Aging, Regenerative & Functional Medicine fellowship. Furthermore, she earned a Master’s degree from the University of South Florida in Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine. Teresa dedicated her time to exploring healing through energies. However, she did not limit herself to the clinic and served the community side-by-side. She was involved with several local charities like Wings of Shelter International and The Good Shepherds Ministry, besides being an active member of Our Mother’s Home organization. Teresa had her YouTube show to share her stance on Holistic medicine.
Teresa Sievers Was Found in a Pool of Blood in Her Home
From the outside, Teresa had a thriving medical career and a loving and perfect family. However, everything completely changed on the fateful day of June 29, 2015. She was on a weekend trip with Mark and their daughters to celebrate her mother’s 75th birthday in New York. She reportedly flew back alone on June 28 for her Monday patient appointments, leaving her family in New York. When Teresa did not arrive for her morning appointments, the clinic called Mark to alert him. The latter called his friend, Dr. Stephen Stohler, and his mother, Bonnie Sievers, to check up on Teresa. Although his mother was on her way, he asked her to turn back because his friend had reached the location. When Stephen entered the house, he was horrified to find Teresa on the ground.
Stephen immediately called 911 to inform them about the situation. When the officials finally arrived, they found Teresa deceased on the floor. She was in a pool of blood with a hammer lying by her side. Upon inspection, they found that the side garage door had been tampered with. Similarly, they found her luggage and purse rifled through. All these reportedly pointed towards a burglary for the investigators. However, it was soon ruled out as a possibility since all the valuables were intact in the home. Hence, it soon turned into a murder investigation. The autopsy revealed her cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the back of the skull multiple times.
An Unexpected Tip Brought the Investigators One Step Closer to the Killers
Mark informed the police that he had last heard from his wife the previous night. Bonnie further said that on June 27, she had turned the alarm of their house on, but it was turned off the next morning. Upon investigation, officials discovered that the alarm was turned off at 6:09 am before her arrival, indicating the involvement of another person. They questioned Stephen and the people whom Teresa had helped in the past, but it led to a dead end. The name of Sandra, a nurse at her clinic, often arose during the interrogation. However, she was soon ruled out as a suspect. When Mark was brought in for questioning, he claimed that no one would hurt Teresa. When he was asked about infidelity, he insisted that they did not have any marital problems.
However, accounts from Mark and Teresa’s next-door neighbor suggested otherwise. When the officials questioned him again about infidelity, he claimed that they had an open marriage and alleged that his wife knew about it. However, none of these women turned out to be a potential suspect. A breakthrough came in the form of a tip from the police chief of the Southern Illinois Airport. It reportedly revealed his acquaintance, Rose, who was reluctant to come forward. Upon requests from the detectives, she reportedly revealed information about one of her friends’ daughters, Angie, who was upset because her husband, Curtis Wayne Wright, had left for a weekend trip without her.
Rose further informed that Curtis had left to troubleshoot his best friend’s office computers in Florida. Officials were shocked to discover that the office was Teresa’s clinic, and he was Mark’s long-term best friend. Upon reaching Missouri to question him, they found that he had been convicted thrice for drug possession and had served time in prison. When Curt was interrogated, he claimed he was in Missouri due to pain during the weekend. However, this contradicted Angie’s statement that he was in Florida. He alleged that he had helped a shop owner, Chris Taylor, whose car had broken down. When detectives checked the alibi, it reportedly turned out to be false. One of Curtis’ friends informed them that he had offered to buy plane tickets, but the former chose to travel to Florida by car.
Forensic Evidence and a GPS Device Led to the Arrest of Three Perpetrators
Officials checked Cutis’ home and found an old GPS device in a rental car in his driveway. On checking his phone records, the name Jimmy Ray Rodgers came up. Investigators discovered the latter was on probation for weapon charges. Hence, when they visited his trailer to question him, he was uncomfortable and denied speaking to Curtis. Another breakthrough soon arrived when the experts restored deleted data from the GPS device. It reportedly revealed the route that Curtis took from Missouri to Florida. Officials further discovered from the connected email on the device that he was traveling with Jimmy. After checking all surveillance footage on the route, they found a video that captured them just 15 miles away from the murder scene on the morning of the murder. They reportedly purchased items like a lock-picking kit, trash bags, etc. Curtis and Jimmy were finally arrested in August 2015.
However, Curtis and Jimmy continued to deny their involvement. Police then questioned the latter’s girlfriend. She informed them that Jimmy had confessed to killing someone in Florida with a hammer before her. He reportedly made her throw his coveralls out of the moving car. When the clothing was recovered, experts found that the fabrics matched those found on Teresa’s remains. They also found Jimmy’s hair on the coverall. Curtis eventually confessed how he and Jimmy had snuck into the house to murder Teresa with a hammer in return for a lesser sentence. The biggest surprise came when he revealed that Mark had offered him around $100,000 to murder his wife. The latter was ultimately arrested in February 2016. Jimmy pleaded not guilty when his jury trial began in October 2019.
The following month, Jimmy was convicted of second-degree murder and trespassing. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on December 12, 2019. Shortly after, Mark’s jury trial began. On December 4, 2019, he was found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. On January 3, 2020, he was sentenced to death. In 2020, Curtis pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. In 2022, Jimmy appealed his conviction, but it was denied. Similarly, Mark had also appealed to overturn his death row, but the court upheld his conviction and death sentence on November 17, 2022. As of writing, he is on his death row and incarcerated in the Union Correctional Institution located in Union County, Florida. Jimmy is currently serving his sentence in the South Bay Correctional Facility. Curtis is serving his time at the Walton Correctional Institution in Defuniak Springs, Florida.
Read More: Jason Paul Corbett Murder: How Did He Die? Who Killed Him?
