FL - Dr Teresa Sievers, 46, murdered in home, Bonita Springs, June 2015 #4

[Matlacha]

We need to remember. That when people are paying out of their own pocket for treatment from a so called specialist. They want results without getting milked for all of their money.

Now once all of their money is gone while still suffering; Them or their loved ones would start to look at the specialist as a snake oil scam. Jmo

No rape. No robbery. Yelling taking place. YouTube videos promoting her revolutionary cures.

Tells me that a patient or loved one of a patient was not happy with the results and the drainage of the patient funds. Jmo

Anything is possible, especially given that most of what we think we know about the case, even the hammer, hasn't come from LE. The shouting isn't known to have come from the Sievers's house or to have been directed at the victim--could easily have been one perp to another.

Patients seem unlikely murderers, though, for a number of reasons. First, with the possible exception of transgender patients, most people looking for a holistic doctor and willing to pay out of pocket are older, at least relatively well-to-do folks. Older, well-to-do folks, despite Hollywood, don't tend to be homicidal. Also, many of her patients had probably already been disappointed by conventional medicine, so they weren't likely expecting miracles, just something better than what they seen before. Many seemed quite happy with what they were getting, including patients who posted comments on Sievers's memorial page saying they'd looked for a doctor like her for years and were unlikely to find another. Conventional medicine, on the other hand, killed 60,000 people with Vioxx alone, and I doubt a single prescriber of Vioxx was murdered or even sued (Merck itself paid out settlements of roughly $5 billion as just a normal cost of doing business). Second, very few patients, especially disgruntled former patients, would have known anything about the family's travel schedule, alarm system, etc.

By the way, here's a lovely story about the origins of snake oil (seems the original Chinese product, an omega-3 fatty acid just like today's fish oil, actually worked):

http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/08/26/215761377/a-history-of-snake-oil-salesmen

 

[Dushi]

If in fact she was killed in the kitchen, then I believe her attacker was there early in the evening after she arrived home or early in the morning after she was up.
Based on NG, the dogs were at home. But they didn't bark AFAIK. So maybe they knew the person.
But why wouldn't they bark during the attack?
I would love to know where the dogs were when she was discovered.

LE has shown great interest in the van.
Obviously they are looking for something that shouldn't be there, but what?
If her attacker was someone she knew, hair or fiber could have gotten in at an earlier date.
Did they find blood?
Is it the dents they are interested in?

I have more questions everyday

 

[Arachne 1]

Thank you, Matlacha! I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the article on snake oil, by Lakshmi Gandhi. Thanks so much for sharing!

 

[indianwin2001]

I'm not so sure. IMO, if the disgruntled patient theory is true, this patient and/or family would have launched formal complaints before resorting to killing. Filing formal complaints or attempting to launch a civil suit would 1. "expose" the snake oil scam; and 2. most effective way to recoup financial losses. Murdering the doctor would not accomplish either.

On the other hand, it is not unheard of that doctors are targeted for perceived failures by family members. I remember a story from last year where a surgeon was shot and killed at the hospital by the son of a former (elderly) patient who had recently died. The perp then shot himself. Tragic all around, but I don't believe this is a similar situation due to the location of the crime, and the manner of death. The unsub, IMO, is someone who had been in the home before - s/he did not enter for the first time to murder Dr. Sievers, and this was personal.


Also, just a thought but if the unsub broke into the home via the pedestrian garage door before Dr. Sievers arrived home, wouldn't she have noticed that the door was damaged (and probably ajar)? Of course its possible she didn't notice. In that case, how unlucky could she be? Not only would the deadbolt be left unlocked, the alarm system have failed to sound when the door was breached, and even while bring her luggage into the house or letting the dogs into the yard/taking them for a walk, she failed to notice the condition of the door.

IMO, this scene could easily unfold if the unsub enter the home with the victim because this person is known to the victim, not a threat, which explains why the alarm didn't sound, why the dogs didn't bark, and quite possibly, why the victim was killed in the kitchen (if this is true). Seemingly, it would be easier to bludgeon someone to death while they're in bed than it would be to do this while the victim it upright and awake. But, if the unsub is someone familiar, perhaps they were eating/drinking/chatting in the kitchen before the crime. Its not like the unsub could wait until she went to bed unless they also planned to sleepover. Also, lets not forget there is something very important about that van to LE and my guess, this is because the unsub was in the van prior to the murder.

Good sluething creepingskills and I agree with your whole premise. I seriously doubt this was a disgruntled patient.

 

[cluciano63]

I believe a disgruntled patient or family member of a patient would have attacked her in her place of work. I do not believe her career had anytning to do with her murder.

OT but some show on the ID channel today had a case of a woman being killed in her home by a hammer. Made to look like a robbery. Actually she had been killed by the woman and/or her son from next door, as the neighbor woman was having an affair with the victim's husband. They even tried to make it look like their house had been robbed as well, but did a crappy job of it.

 

[creepingskills]

If in fact she was killed in the kitchen, then I believe her attacker was there early in the evening after she arrived home or early in the morning after she was up.
Based on NG, the dogs were at home. But they didn't bark AFAIK. So maybe they knew the person.
But why wouldn't they bark during the attack?
I would love to know where the dogs were when she was discovered.

LE has shown great interest in the van.
Obviously they are looking for something that shouldn't be there, but what?
If her attacker was someone she knew, hair or fiber could have gotten in at an earlier date.
Did they find blood?
Is it the dents they are interested in?

I have more questions everyday

Let's say the dogs were in the home at the time of the murder, and for whatever reason they were spooked, and possibly hiding, not barking during the murder, I am left wondering why didn't the dogs approach the body after the unsub left the scene? I would think the dogs would eventually leave their hiding spots to investigate, or at least enter the kitchen for food/water once the noise ceased. IMO, those dogs did not have the ability to enter the immediate crime scene (kitchen). Dogs didn't appear to have blood on fur when LE brought them out front, and I highly doubt LE would clean the dogs or bring them outside if it was clear they were near the body, at any point. And it probably would be clear - bloody paw prints.

As the owner of two Jack Russells who bark at everything and everyone, when I'm having a friend over who doesn't like dogs OR has a (usually smaller and/or male) dog that my dogs do not know, I'll put my two in a gated area of the house. Before I adopted the second dog, it was easier to introduce the first dog to "new" dog friends but once you have two, the dynamic changes and they can be more aggressive than they would be alone. I mention this because of the report that LE was combing through the dog park, and swabbing the victim's dogs for DNA. Wondering if there was dog DNA not belonging to the victim's dogs in the kitchen, near the body.

Far fetched theory developing as I type this - what if the unsub knew that Dr. Sievers would probably gate her dogs or put them in the backyard because of the unsub's (or his/her dog's) presence on the scene? Might explain why LE swabbed the dogs later on - after DNA testing came back proving that a dog was present in kitchen during the commission of the crime, but LE knows that the victim's dogs were not present. Why would the unsub not want the dogs in the kitchen before s/he struck? Because if this was a premeditated attack, s/he would have had time to consider being bit or scratched (thus leaving evidence behind) or the noise factor - even if this person knew the dogs well.

Lastly, before I lived at that lovely apartment complex requiring resident dog DNA to catch the owners who didn't pick up waste, I wouldn't have ever thought dog DNA could be linked by urine/poop. If I were an unsub who had a small dog, maybe one that doesn't shed, I'd assume so long as my dog doesn't bite the victim, I'd be safe. And, apologies in advance to all the Morkie (maltesze-yorkie) lovers, but my friend has one that pees (just a little) on the floor whenever it gets excited, small bladder. It could also be a large dog who was 'marking' the area because of the other dogs. Maybe our unsub did not consider this scenario, or maybe they did and perhaps didn't notice that the doggy decoy left a gift for LE.

 

[creepingskills]

LE has shown great interest in the van.
Obviously they are looking for something that shouldn't be there, but what?
If her attacker was someone she knew, hair or fiber could have gotten in at an earlier date.

If the van is not the victim's primary vehicle, then its very possible she knew the person whose DNA is found in the van but that person did not have access to the van prior to June 28/29. It may be established that the victim had a habit of always driving the white vehicle and as a result of this last minute trip and leaving the van parked, she drove the van on June 28(?). Maybe LE is aware of her habit and have evidence but because its more probable that she sometimes drove the van, do not want to rely on this kind of evidence in court; seeking a search warrant, arrest warrant, GJ indictment.

 

[Matlacha]

A few more comments in defense of Sievers’s practice (though I remain skeptical of Energy Medicine as presented):

(1) There was at least one dangerous drug on the list of drugs she prescribed, but it’s totally conventional and widely prescribed by mainstream docs: Sertraline (Zoloft), an selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant. Much violence, including many (info is not always made public) mass shootings in recent decades have been committed by people on, or just off, SSRIs (see http://ssristories.org/), so if the perp were a patient, this might be a place to look. According to an article from Time magazine, three of the top ten prescription drugs linked to violence are SSRIs (Fluvoxamine, Paxil, Prozac):

http://healthland.time.com/2011/01/07/top-ten-legal-drugs-linked-to-violence/

(2) Flexcin gets outstanding reviews (4.3 to 4.4 out of 5 stars on as many as 71 reviews, depending on the specific product) at Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Flexcin-Joint-Support-Formula-3-pack/dp/B002RMTBL8

Approximately 9% of reviews are critical, most of those saying the product just didn’t work for them. If that level of ineffectiveness qualifies as “snake oil,” consider that in 2013 (most recent data), the FDA reported that prescription drugs in the U.S. were associated with more than 711,000 serious adverse reactions (defined as death, hospitalization, life-threatening, disabling, or similarly serious outcomes) including 117,752 deaths. Reporting adverse reactions isn’t mandatory, and not all docs would recognize an association, so the real numbers are likely higher:

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/GuidanceCo...Surveillance/AdverseDrugEffects/ucm070461.htm

(3) The memorial tributes to Sievers from patients are as warm as I can imagine any doctor receiving. Of the total of 32 tributes, 18 were from people, sometimes couples, identifying themselves as patients. Phrases like “she was a godsend” and “she healed me when no other doctor could” are common. Note, too, that many patients warmly mention “Mark and the girls” in their condolences, suggesting both MS and the children were more of a presence at the office than some have suggested.

http://www.shikanyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Teresa-Sievers/

 

[beach]

Excuse this interruption but just have to say -

YAYYYY! We're back online! :great:

The withdrawals were tough but necessary for growth and performance. Great big brand new server that should have us all navigating with speed soon!

It's a good thing. A very good thing.

Thanks to Dave (WS tech support guy) for getting it done with very few hiccups. :bowdown:

 

[No it's not]

NG Transcript from the last show, scroll down about 3/4 of the transcript:

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1508/20/ng.01.html

-Nin

 

[beach]

The part of the NG transcript referencing this case is less than 10% of the document so it will comply with copyright if I copy and paste that portion here. (Makes it easier than scrolling through searching for that brief part):

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: A neighborhood on edge after this doctor and mother of two was found dead inside her Bonita Springs Home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m very scared for my safety.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Who believes she may have heard the murder as it happened.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thinking that someone is going to come in and kill me.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Dr. Jeff Bradstreet and Bruce Hedendal both died within weeks of each other. Both doctors took a more natural approach to healing, like Dr. Sievers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: New details emerging tonight in the mystery surrounding the death of a gorgeous young doctor. The mother of two. Also married. Dr. Theresa Sievers. Straight out, joining me on the scene is investigative reporter, Nicole Partin. Nicole, what is the latest?

NICOLE PARTIN, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER: Police are being very tightlipped about the investigation and have not released very much new information. We do know, however that a hammer has been named as the murder weapon, and we also know that no robbery or rape has been confirmed.

GRACE: So the hammer, as the murder weapon, likely because the hammer`s either found or because of the nature of the wounds to Dr. Sievers. Now I`m hearing no rape. No robbery. What about the car, Nicole?

PARTIN: Neighbors are telling us that that blue minivan, the one originally removed during the investigation, has not been returned to the family home. As you can see, it is not in the driveway behind me. We`re also learning that that blue van belonged to Dr. Sievers` husband. And now he is now driving the family car. Only now the family car has very dark tinted windows. Neighbors also believe that Dr. Sievers` husband and two children have returned living at the home. They have seen him come and go. They`ve also noticed that at night the blinds are open and the lights are on.

GRACE: With me, Bob Alexander, anchor with 92.5 FOX News. So the police still have the husband`s blue minivan? Why?

BOB ALEXANDER, ANCHOR, 92.5 FOX NEWS: Well, that minivan was collected, of course, shortly after this whole thing developed. And they took it off for processing somewhere in an undisclosed location. They say that doctor -- Mark Sievers, rather, has been driving around in the white mini station wagon that belonged to his wife and he was the one that always drove around in the minivan. She had her own vehicle so the question remains as to why that van has not been returned as of yet. It`s been almost two months since this whole thing developed and still no minivan.

GRACE: The husband`s minivan, obviously still in police custody, and we learn tonight, saliva tests taken from the family dogs? Was there saliva on Dr. Sievers` body?

<snip>

GRACE: New details emerging in the brutal death of Dr. Theresa Sievers out of Florida. To Michael Christian on the story, dog saliva samples taken from her pets?

MICHAEL CHRISTIAN, NANCY GRACE PRODUCER: Yes, and hair also, Nancy. Now there are two dogs that live with the Sievers, one is a black medium sized dogs, been described as looking like a mutt, and the other is a larger white dog, possibly a lab.

GRACE: Larry Fishelson with Dynalink, technology expert. Larry, can we determine when they flight was changed? Was she supposed to come back that Sunday night and leave her family behind? Or was that a sudden decision? How can you tell?

FISHELSON: Very easy, Nancy. We can tell via the e-mail receipt of the exact time and date it was booked. And also, if we don`t have that, we can get it from the airline and all the info is stored.

GRACE: And Dr. Devi, the murder weapon has been deemed to be the hammer. Have they linked that up to the injuries on the body? How do you do that? How can you look at the body and tell it was a hammer attack?

NAMPIAPARAMPIL: Well, you can look at the pattern of the injuries so the nature of the injuries and try to match them up. You can also try to tell if the shape of the hammer matches. And they usually, most medical examiners take photographs. They use a ton of x-rays on the entire body and then they can map out the trajectory of injuries as well.

LINK

 

[SeesSeas]

My thoughts about the blue van …..

LE might still have the van for additional evidence processing.

LE might have completed examining the van – and found ‘something’ or ‘nothing’ related to the crime.

If there is pertinent crime evidence in the van, LE could retain the van until after an arrest, so that the defense has an opportunity to examine the actual intact evidence (the entire van).

If LE has made the decision to release the van to the owner, MS may have chosen to not keep the van. He may have contacted a vehicle auction or used-car dealer to sell the van. He might have arranged to meet a buyer at the LE impound lot or driven the van directly to the buyer.

Here is an interesting tidbit:
http://www.tdcaa.com/node/4196
What to do with evidence when you’re done with it, March-April 2009
Texas District & County Attorneys Association
Excerpt: Another category of evidence that law enforcement frequently releases early is automobiles. Once the vehicle has been processed by crime scene personnel, there is rarely a reason to keep an entire vehicle.

 

[creepingskills]

The part of the NG transcript referencing this case is less than 10% of the document so it will comply with copyright if I copy and paste that portion here. (Makes it easier than scrolling through searching for that brief part):

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: A neighborhood on edge after this doctor and mother of two was found dead inside her Bonita Springs Home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m very scared for my safety.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Who believes she may have heard the murder as it happened.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thinking that someone is going to come in and kill me.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Dr. Jeff Bradstreet and Bruce Hedendal both died within weeks of each other. Both doctors took a more natural approach to healing, like Dr. Sievers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: New details emerging tonight in the mystery surrounding the death of a gorgeous young doctor. The mother of two. Also married. Dr. Theresa Sievers. Straight out, joining me on the scene is investigative reporter, Nicole Partin. Nicole, what is the latest?

NICOLE PARTIN, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER: Police are being very tightlipped about the investigation and have not released very much new information. We do know, however that a hammer has been named as the murder weapon, and we also know that no robbery or rape has been confirmed.

GRACE: So the hammer, as the murder weapon, likely because the hammer`s either found or because of the nature of the wounds to Dr. Sievers. Now I`m hearing no rape. No robbery. What about the car, Nicole?

PARTIN: Neighbors are telling us that that blue minivan, the one originally removed during the investigation, has not been returned to the family home. As you can see, it is not in the driveway behind me. We`re also learning that that blue van belonged to Dr. Sievers` husband. And now he is now driving the family car. Only now the family car has very dark tinted windows. Neighbors also believe that Dr. Sievers` husband and two children have returned living at the home. They have seen him come and go. They`ve also noticed that at night the blinds are open and the lights are on.

GRACE: With me, Bob Alexander, anchor with 92.5 FOX News. So the police still have the husband`s blue minivan? Why?

BOB ALEXANDER, ANCHOR, 92.5 FOX NEWS: Well, that minivan was collected, of course, shortly after this whole thing developed. And they took it off for processing somewhere in an undisclosed location. They say that doctor -- Mark Sievers, rather, has been driving around in the white mini station wagon that belonged to his wife and he was the one that always drove around in the minivan. She had her own vehicle so the question remains as to why that van has not been returned as of yet. It`s been almost two months since this whole thing developed and still no minivan.

GRACE: The husband`s minivan, obviously still in police custody, and we learn tonight, saliva tests taken from the family dogs? Was there saliva on Dr. Sievers` body?

<snip>

GRACE: New details emerging in the brutal death of Dr. Theresa Sievers out of Florida. To Michael Christian on the story, dog saliva samples taken from her pets?

MICHAEL CHRISTIAN, NANCY GRACE PRODUCER: Yes, and hair also, Nancy. Now there are two dogs that live with the Sievers, one is a black medium sized dogs, been described as looking like a mutt, and the other is a larger white dog, possibly a lab.

GRACE: Larry Fishelson with Dynalink, technology expert. Larry, can we determine when they flight was changed? Was she supposed to come back that Sunday night and leave her family behind? Or was that a sudden decision? How can you tell?

FISHELSON: Very easy, Nancy. We can tell via the e-mail receipt of the exact time and date it was booked. And also, if we don`t have that, we can get it from the airline and all the info is stored.

GRACE: And Dr. Devi, the murder weapon has been deemed to be the hammer. Have they linked that up to the injuries on the body? How do you do that? How can you look at the body and tell it was a hammer attack?

NAMPIAPARAMPIL: Well, you can look at the pattern of the injuries so the nature of the injuries and try to match them up. You can also try to tell if the shape of the hammer matches. And they usually, most medical examiners take photographs. They use a ton of x-rays on the entire body and then they can map out the trajectory of injuries as well.

LINK

So, the implication here is that the windows were tinted after the murder?

Also, no new information besides confirmation of the saliva tests on the dogs. And I don't recall seeing a white dog, weren't they both brown/black? I wonder if LE leaked confirmation of the dog DNA evidence so she would report on it again - maybe to make the unsub a little nervous? NG went radio silent and then comes back with an update thats not really an update, JMO.

 

[creepingskills]

It it possible that the blue van is an additional crime scene? Did the attack maybe start or end inside the van?

ETA: would be helpful to know what position the van driver's seat was in; adjusted for a short or tall person?

 

[creepingskills]

GRACE: New details emerging in the brutal death of Dr. Theresa Sievers out of Florida. To Michael Christian on the story, dog saliva samples taken from her pets?

MICHAEL CHRISTIAN, NANCY GRACE PRODUCER: Yes, and hair also, Nancy. Now there are two dogs that live with the Sievers, one is a black medium sized dogs, been described as looking like a mutt, and the other is a larger white dog, possibly a lab.

NG's earlier footage shows two black medium dogs. http://www.hlntv.com/video/2015/07/02/doctor-teresa-sievers-murdered-home-family-out-town

Does NG have new information about a large, white dog?

 

[SeesSeas]

GRACE: New details emerging in the brutal death of Dr. Theresa Sievers out of Florida. To Michael Christian on the story, dog saliva samples taken from her pets?

MICHAEL CHRISTIAN, NANCY GRACE PRODUCER: Yes, and hair also, Nancy. Now there are two dogs that live with the Sievers, one is a black medium sized dogs, been described as looking like a mutt, and the other is a larger white dog, possibly a lab.

NG's earlier footage shows two black medium dogs. http://www.hlntv.com/video/2015/07/02/doctor-teresa-sievers-murdered-home-family-out-town

Does NG have new information about a large, white dog?

I think NG has erroneous information about a large white dog.

Earlier video does indeed show 2 large black dogs on leashes with LE outside of the Sievers' home. Video at :51.
http://www.hlntv.com/video/2015/07/02/doctor-teresa-sievers-murdered-home-family-out-town

So, NG is apparently mistaken about a white dog?!?!?
NG's statement "one is a black medium sized dogs, been described as looking like a mutt,and the other is a larger white dog, possibly a lab."

I am leery of most statements by NG.

 

[No it's not]

I have a question:

How much of an elaborate process is it to separate overlapping latent fingerprints and to identify the single layers? Can the latent overlaps be lifted at the crime scene or does it require sophisticated technology in the laboratory?

Anyone knows?

-Nin

 

[No it's not]

I have a question:

How much of an elaborate process is it to separate overlapping latent fingerprints and to identify the single layers? Can the latent overlaps be lifted at the crime scene or does it require sophisticated technology in the laboratory?

Anyone knows?

-Nin

Having temporary problems expressing myself.. Regarding my second question, can the layers be completely lifted in their entirety at the crime scene, or do they require laboratory technology ( specific light, scanner etc.)?

Thanks!

-Nin

 

[Sparky]

Having temporary problems expressing myself.. Regarding my second question, can the layers be completely lifted in their entirety at the crime scene, or do they require laboratory technology ( specific light, scanner etc.)?

Thanks!

-Nin

Actually this addresses the first part of your post.

Yes, it can be done. Very difficult from what I've read. There are several articles on Google. I chose this one.

Separating overlapped fingerprints
Overlapped fingerprints are not unusual in latent fingerprints taken from crime scenes. However, separating overlapped fingerprints into individual fingerprints is a very challenging problem for both existing automatic fingerprint recognition systems and human fingerprint experts. We proposed algorithms for separating overlapped fingerprints.

http://ivg.au.tsinghua.edu.cn/~jfeng/research.html

 

[No it's not]

Actually this addresses the first part of your post.

Yes, it can be done. Very difficult from what I've read. There are several articles on Google. I chose this one.

Separating overlapped fingerprints
Overlapped fingerprints are not unusual in latent fingerprints taken from crime scenes. However, separating overlapped fingerprints into individual fingerprints is a very challenging problem for both existing automatic fingerprint recognition systems and human fingerprint experts. We proposed algorithms for separating overlapped fingerprints.

http://ivg.au.tsinghua.edu.cn/~jfeng/research.html

Thank you, Sparky. I was just wondering if there are instances, that they have to isolate areas with overlapping fingerprints and take them to the lab. I seem to recall they may be able to work them with a special light (-source?) in an effort to read and then separate the individual layers by algorithms. So they may have to be treated a certain way prior to even lift them. No idea, have to research.

-Nin