Mark Sievers Trial General Discussion Thread

[Curious Me]

Court TV is capitalizing on the sensationalism of the case which means lots of CWW and JRR coverage. Mark's role is hiring these guys. The State has to prove what they stated in the Opening Statement. (see above video) There was the wedding, the burner phones connection, the insurance motive and payoff talk. They can prove the two men came to Florida and there's a fiber linking them inside the house. There's a lot being left out so far. Some of what the prosecution has presented has lacked impact and seemed disjointed, IMO. Hope the next witnesses are as convincing and revealing as Dr. P's in his testimony. I'm afraid there isn't going to be enough to show that Mark's role was "the crucial evil" that set this all in motion. Stay hopeful though and remember the Jurors are very intelligent people.

All JMO

 

[FelicityLemon]

I'm a little late responding to the above questions you asked yesterday, but I don't think Dr. Petrites testimony changed over time. I do think, however, that several statements he made early on were not public knowledge until the state forwarded them to JRR's defense attorney after his trial ended (thus their motion for a new trial, which was denied). I am hoping we we will hear more about these statements during MS trial. The following statements were published in the Naples Daily News on November 5, 2019 as follows:

• Mark Sievers was committing Medicare fraud and was taking cash from patients while also billing Medicare.
• In the months prior to the murder, Petrites overheard a heated discussion between Teresa Sievers and Mark Sievers. Teresa Sievers was unhappy about money paid to Wright for his work on company servers.
• Mark Sievers, at some point early in the investigation, told Petrites that he “knew what all had happened.”
• After Wright was arrested, Mark Sievers wanted the jail staff to allow Wright access to a computer to work on the servers in the medical practice from jail.
• Mark Sievers defended Wright and questioned the evidence against him.
  
  Rodgers' attorneys request new trial, say certain evidence not disclosed in Sievers murder case

Grrreeeaaaaat what a d**chebag. "Yes, my best friend is in jail accused (or had he confessed by then?) of murdering my wife, but I still want him to work for me..." Frankly, if that had been allowed, it's guaranteed that there would have been more monkey business and law enforcement would have even more information/ammunition against the two of them. Dilemma, dilemma. :thinking: Ah, well.

 

[Oregonmama]

Now I am worried about a conviction for Mark. That human should never be allowed to walk free!

 

[Marysmith]

I’ve been sitting on my hands because I am furious. Only getting more furious every day. This is the most disjointed piece of crap case in chief I have ever witnessed. Frankly, it’s a disaster. Let’s be real - they’ve barely entered any evidence or testimony that ties directly to Mark. And we all know it’s there. They just haven’t called the witnesses that can link him. Unfortunately, I fear the reason why they haven’t is even more disgusting. I hope I’m wrong but every day is seems more apparent.

So....here goes my worry/concern...

The day before Teresa’s funeral there was a private family viewing/memorial. The family went back to Bonnie’s house afterward. More family & friends were arriving from out of town to gather there. However, Mark insisted on leaving the family to meet with a woman at the beach. A friend who was so distraught that she was contemplating dropping out of law school, so he said. Mark said he needed to talk her out of it. That woman was Michele Petrites, Dr. Petrites’ wife. He returned 4 hours later. Sunburned. I’ve waited for over 4 years for her statement to be released. Ever seen it? Nope, me either. Ever heard a single word from her? Not me. Wonder why, don’t y’all? You’d think surely the State would want her statement. Why haven’t we seen it? Baffling.

Fast forward to 2018. She’s graduated law school apparently because she is now employed by the State of Florida as an Assistant State Attorney in a neighboring county. I’m not going to post her profile but it’s out there. (Please don’t post it if you find it. I’ve got screenshots if it disappears.) Is the State protecting this woman for professional reasons? Someone needs to do some explaining.

WOW. I do remember hearing about MS leaving for hours... this is what I mean - every little thing, and this is not little, counts and can help add to a conviction.

 

[Oregonmama]

WOW. I do remember hearing about MS leaving for hours... this is what I mean - every little thing, and this is not little, counts and can help add to a conviction.

Quite frankly, I am pissed off that Mark had the nerve to leave a very important family event to embark on a 4 hour sex fueled adventure. DISGUSTING!! JMO

 

[MsArk]

Now I am worried about a conviction for Mark. That human should never be allowed to walk free!

I am also worried. Very little the state has presented shows a direct link between MS and CWW (or so it seems). There is just so much more they should be putting on! Frankly, I don’t understand it. It isn’t like they were rushed to trial!

 

[Curious Me]

People that are newer to this case react strongly to the violent brutal hammer head-bashing acts of the hired killers. I worry jurors are only getting the tip of the ice berg. This trial seems to be skipping over how responsible and just how equally evil Mark is. Deceptive Mark planned the horrible death of his wife, and had no problem leaving it up to CWW hired like a hit man to kill her. But there is so much more.

Let's not gloss over that Mark decided and told CWW that there was no other option and that Teresa had to die. Sure he wanted her dead for the insurance money and it was a lot of insurance money. Even so, some might say she was worth more to him alive, but not if she left. Maybe what's not apparent so far in this trial is that there was other stuff going on Mark was doing, and that Teresa was probably going to leave.

What went on after Teresa's death was equally bizarre. CWW the killer and wife come down to Florida and are more welcome to stay at Bonnie's house than Mark's own sister? Mark was all for CWW being there...hey, let's go swimming with the daughters who just lost their mother. Oh, and Mark scrabbling to ditch computer equipment around the time of the funeral service. Gosh, there's so much maybe jurors will never know.

 

[Oregonmama]

I said this a few days ago but it needs to be said again. Mark is not a stupid person. He picked each person a specific part in his play. He chose his mom to watch the house and fail at setting the alarm, he picked 2 stooges to commit the murder, he picked a Dr who was a mentor to Teresa to find her body, he was shacking up with Dr P's wife and others….. This is a well planned out murder and it is painful to see what's going on in the trial. Rant done... MOO

 

[Synergizer Bunny]

I’ve been sitting on my hands because I am furious. Only getting more furious every day. This is the most disjointed piece of crap case in chief I have ever witnessed. Frankly, it’s a disaster. Let’s be real - they’ve barely entered any evidence or testimony that ties directly to Mark. And we all know it’s there. They just haven’t called the witnesses that can link him. Unfortunately, I fear the reason why they haven’t is even more disgusting. I hope I’m wrong but every day is seems more apparent.

So....here goes my worry/concern...

The day before Teresa’s funeral there was a private family viewing/memorial. The family went back to Bonnie’s house afterward. More family & friends were arriving from out of town to gather there. However, Mark insisted on leaving the family to meet with a woman at the beach. A friend who was so distraught that she was contemplating dropping out of law school, so he said. Mark said he needed to talk her out of it. That woman was Michele Petrites, Dr. Petrites’ wife. He returned 4 hours later. Sunburned. I’ve waited for over 4 years for her statement to be released. Ever seen it? Nope, me either. Ever heard a single word from her? Not me. Wonder why, don’t y’all? You’d think surely the State would want her statement. Why haven’t we seen it? Baffling.

Fast forward to 2018. She’s graduated law school apparently because she is now employed by the State of Florida as an Assistant State Attorney in a neighboring county. I’m not going to post her profile but it’s out there. (Please don’t post it if you find it. I’ve got screenshots if it disappears.) Is the State protecting this woman for professional reasons? Someone needs to do some explaining.

Is there any way that you can send this observation and question to someone(s) in the State Attorney's office? I would want it on record that someone asked about this incident. Yes, it is extremely important and shows his callousness.

I read his Missouri friend's statement, the one who flew into town for the funeral. I found the entire situation so distasteful that I myself would have left. Bonnie sounds like a real charmer...She lets Wright and his wife stay at their home but not her own daughter. She makes this woman wait outside while they have a "family" meeting...Wow...Then, later on, she asks why she is still there. I was offended reading the entire mess.

BTW - Where is Bonnie? She's not in the courtroom. Is she?

 

[Synergizer Bunny]

Quite frankly, I am pissed off that Mark had the nerve to leave a very important family event to embark on a 4 hour sex fueled adventure. DISGUSTING!! JMO

It doesn't sound like the sex part turned out, and he forgot to bring his sunscreen just in case he flopped.

Surely, this doctor's wife wasn't having an affair with this loser. Was she? Is that why she was so upset...feeling guilty?

 

[Oregonmama]

Is there any way that you can send this observation and question to someone(s) in the State Attorney's office? I would want it on record that someone asked about this incident. Yes, it is extremely important and shows his callousness.

I read his Missouri friend's statement, the one who flew into town for the funeral. I found the entire situation so distasteful that I myself would have left. Bonnie sounds like a real charmer...She lets Wright and his wife stay at their home but not her own daughter. She makes this woman wait outside while they have a "family" meeting...Wow...Then, later on, she asks why she is still there. I was offended reading the entire mess.

BTW - Where is Bonnie? She's not in the courtroom. Is she?

Bonnie has not been in the court room at all yet. If she is not a witness, then I doubt she will ever come...jmo

 

[lemondaktril]

Something has been bothering me and I finally had a chance to go back and find it. Sorry, I don't know how to link to the video and maybe this has already been brought up. But anyway, in MM's cross of CWW he tries to verify how many times poor TS was hit. He makes the point that CWW and JR didn't keep count. As I recall from early days, Mark mentioned 17 times to someone (Carrie?) and yet he shouldn't have known that.

From CWW's cross approx. 1:16:30 to 1:17:05
Did you and Jimmy on the way back, did you compare notes?
No
Did you ever ask Jimmy, how many times did you strike Dr. S with a hammer?
No, I saw that it was a lot, I didn't ask him.
Were you keeping count?
No.
Do you have any way of knowing/at that time, would you have had any way of knowing how many times Dr. Sievers was struck with a hammer?
Not a specific number.

 

[Oregonmama]

It doesn't sound like the sex part turned out, and he forgot to bring his sunscreen just in case he flopped.

Surely, this doctor's wife wasn't having an affair with this loser. Was she? Is that why she was so upset...feeling guilty?

IMO, they were.

 

[Scalex]

I’ve been sitting on my hands because I am furious. Only getting more furious every day. This is the most disjointed piece of crap case in chief I have ever witnessed. Frankly, it’s a disaster. Let’s be real - they’ve barely entered any evidence or testimony that ties directly to Mark. And we all know it’s there. They just haven’t called the witnesses that can link him. Unfortunately, I fear the reason why they haven’t is even more disgusting. I hope I’m wrong but every day is seems more apparent.

So....here goes my worry/concern...

The day before Teresa’s funeral there was a private family viewing/memorial. The family went back to Bonnie’s house afterward. More family & friends were arriving from out of town to gather there. However, Mark insisted on leaving the family to meet with a woman at the beach. A friend who was so distraught that she was contemplating dropping out of law school, so he said. Mark said he needed to talk her out of it. That woman was Michele Petrites, Dr. Petrites’ wife. He returned 4 hours later. Sunburned. I’ve waited for over 4 years for her statement to be released. Ever seen it? Nope, me either. Ever heard a single word from her? Not me. Wonder why, don’t y’all? You’d think surely the State would want her statement. Why haven’t we seen it? Baffling.

Fast forward to 2018. She’s graduated law school apparently because she is now employed by the State of Florida as an Assistant State Attorney in a neighboring county. I’m not going to post her profile but it’s out there. (Please don’t post it if you find it. I’ve got screenshots if it disappears.) Is the State protecting this woman for professional reasons? Someone needs to do some explaining.

@beach
You are on the right track. I’ll tell you exactly why Mrs. Petrites hasn’t been deposed for this case. Look her up on the Florida Bar. She is not an Assistant State Attorney. She works for the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel. How well would that look for the state. It doesn’t benefit them to open a can of worms.
I have her information but I won’t post it, under your request. I will however share what the CCRC is responsible for, so others can digest it.


Under Florida Statutes::

27.702 Duties of the capital collateral regional counsel; reports.—

(1) The capital collateral regional counsel shall represent each person convicted and sentenced to death in this state for the sole purpose of instituting and prosecuting collateral actions challenging the legality of the judgment and sentence imposed against such person in the state courts, federal courts in this state, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. The three capital collateral regional counsel’s offices shall function independently and be separate budget entities, and the regional counsel shall be the office heads for all purposes. The Justice Administrative Commission shall provide administrative support and service to the three offices to the extent requested by the regional counsel. The three regional offices shall not be subject to control, supervision, or direction by the Justice Administrative Commission in any manner, including, but not limited to, personnel, purchasing, transactions involving real or personal property, and budgetary matters.

(2) The capital collateral regional counsel shall represent persons convicted and sentenced to death within the region in collateral postconviction proceedings, unless a court appoints or permits other counsel to appear as counsel of record.

(3)(a) The capital collateral regional counsel shall file motions seeking compensation for representation and reimbursement for expenses pursuant to 18 U.S.C. s. 3006A when providing representation to indigent persons in the federal courts, and shall deposit all such payments received into the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel Trust Fund.

(b) The court having jurisdiction over any nonindigent or indigent-but-able-to-contribute defendant who has been receiving the services of the capital collateral regional counsel may assess attorney’s fees and costs against the defendant at any stage in the proceedings as the court may deem appropriate. The determination of indigence of any defendant shall be made pursuant to s. 27.52. Liability for the costs of such representation may be imposed in the form of a lien against the property of the nonindigent or indigent-but-able-to-contribute defendant, which lien shall be enforceable as provided in s. 27.561 or s. 938.29.

(4)(a) The capital collateral regional counsel or private counsel shall give written notification of each pleading filed by that office and the name of the person filing the pleading to the trial court assigned to the case.

(b) Each capital collateral regional counsel shall provide a quarterly report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives which details the number of hours worked by investigators and legal counsel per case and the amounts per case expended during the preceding quarter in investigating and litigating capital collateral cases.


History.—s. 3, ch. 85-332; s. 3, ch. 92-300; s. 146, ch. 95-147; s. 2, ch. 96-290; s. 2, ch. 97-313; s. 2, ch. 98-197; s. 2, ch. 98-198; s. 12, ch. 99-2; s. 1, ch. 99-221; s. 2, ch. 2000-3; ss. 89, 90, ch. 2003-399; s. 24, ch. 2003-402; s. 4, ch. 2004-240; s. 2, ch. 2004-251; ss. 68, 69, 76, ch. 2004-269; s. 2, ch. 2009-62; s. 3, ch. 2011-131; s. 4, ch. 2013-216.

 

[ilovewings]

I am not watching much of this trial, but I am following this thread --i am
Concerned that the prosecution isnt putting on a strong case--i know this from watching the trial of George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin case, a poor prosecution can result in acquittal--that was the worst prosecution I ever witnessed.
I hope that doesnt happen in this case.

 

[Kakidoll]

ok.... so i know our rules about not sleuthing.... but with the strangeness of this case, @beach , can we speculate' as to why certain evidence is not being presented, and what possibly could be going on in the background? And who ELSE is being protected as well, and the why's?

 

[beach]

@beach
You are on the right track. I’ll tell you exactly why Mrs. Petrites hasn’t been deposed for this case. Look her up on the Florida Bar. She is not an Assistant State Attorney. She works for the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel. How well would that look for the state. It doesn’t benefit them to open a can of worms.
I have her information but I won’t post it, under your request. I will however share what the CCRC is responsible for, so others can digest it.


Under Florida Statutes::

27.702 Duties of the capital collateral regional counsel; reports.—

(1) The capital collateral regional counsel shall represent each person convicted and sentenced to death in this state for the sole purpose of instituting and prosecuting collateral actions challenging the legality of the judgment and sentence imposed against such person in the state courts, federal courts in this state, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. The three capital collateral regional counsel’s offices shall function independently and be separate budget entities, and the regional counsel shall be the office heads for all purposes. The Justice Administrative Commission shall provide administrative support and service to the three offices to the extent requested by the regional counsel. The three regional offices shall not be subject to control, supervision, or direction by the Justice Administrative Commission in any manner, including, but not limited to, personnel, purchasing, transactions involving real or personal property, and budgetary matters.

(2) The capital collateral regional counsel shall represent persons convicted and sentenced to death within the region in collateral postconviction proceedings, unless a court appoints or permits other counsel to appear as counsel of record.

(3)(a) The capital collateral regional counsel shall file motions seeking compensation for representation and reimbursement for expenses pursuant to 18 U.S.C. s. 3006A when providing representation to indigent persons in the federal courts, and shall deposit all such payments received into the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel Trust Fund.

(b) The court having jurisdiction over any nonindigent or indigent-but-able-to-contribute defendant who has been receiving the services of the capital collateral regional counsel may assess attorney’s fees and costs against the defendant at any stage in the proceedings as the court may deem appropriate. The determination of indigence of any defendant shall be made pursuant to s. 27.52. Liability for the costs of such representation may be imposed in the form of a lien against the property of the nonindigent or indigent-but-able-to-contribute defendant, which lien shall be enforceable as provided in s. 27.561 or s. 938.29.

(4)(a) The capital collateral regional counsel or private counsel shall give written notification of each pleading filed by that office and the name of the person filing the pleading to the trial court assigned to the case.

(b) Each capital collateral regional counsel shall provide a quarterly report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives which details the number of hours worked by investigators and legal counsel per case and the amounts per case expended during the preceding quarter in investigating and litigating capital collateral cases.


History.—s. 3, ch. 85-332; s. 3, ch. 92-300; s. 146, ch. 95-147; s. 2, ch. 96-290; s. 2, ch. 97-313; s. 2, ch. 98-197; s. 2, ch. 98-198; s. 12, ch. 99-2; s. 1, ch. 99-221; s. 2, ch. 2000-3; ss. 89, 90, ch. 2003-399; s. 24, ch. 2003-402; s. 4, ch. 2004-240; s. 2, ch. 2004-251; ss. 68, 69, 76, ch. 2004-269; s. 2, ch. 2009-62; s. 3, ch. 2011-131; s. 4, ch. 2013-216.

Thanks! I’m not familiar with this Counsel and pretty sure we don’t have one in my state. Although, maybe... My criminal law experience is limited and the only capital case I worked pled out. I’ve read this twice but still not clear on the purpose. What exactly?

 

[Curious Me]

I'm don't know, I just don't know.

Mark would be an incredibly stupid sex maniac to leave that gathering, with his daughters, to take them to the beach to meet up for sex with Mrs. P. Did they do it in the sun for him to get a sunburn?

I'm more likely to believe he had to talk to Mrs. P to beg her or blackmail her to not tell all she knew to LE. Maybe they did have something going on. It might be best if she isn't called and I'll tell you why I say that.

At this point, Dr. P's testimony is one of the strongest in the trial. He gives us the ah-ha certainty that Mark had this premeditated. He called Dr. P the night before Teresa was killed.

It'd probably lessen the impact of Dr. P's testimony if the jury thought he was actually jealous or resentful of his wife and Mark having something going on. JMO

 

[beach]

Thanks! I’m not familiar with this Counsel and pretty sure we don’t have one in my state. Although, maybe... My criminal law experience is limited and the only capital case I worked pled out. I’ve read this twice but still not clear on the purpose. What exactly?

@Scalex appellate issues?

 

[Oregonmama]

I'm don't know, I just don't know.

Mark would be an incredibly stupid sex maniac to leave that gathering, with his daughters, to take them to the beach to meet up for sex with Mrs. P. Did they do it in the sun for him to get a sunburn?

I'm more likely to believe he had to talk to Mrs. P to beg her or blackmail her to not tell all she knew to LE. Maybe they did have something going on. It might be best if she isn't called and I'll tell you why I say that.

At this point, Dr. P's testimony is one of the strongest in the trial. He gives us the ah-ha certainty that Mark had this premeditated. He called Dr. P the night before Teresa was killed.

It'd probably lessen the impact of Dr. P's testimony if the jury thought he was actually jealous or resentful of his wife and Mark having something going on. JMO

@Curious Me ...read back on some of the text msg discovery. he took his daughters to a lot of inappropriate hook ups. So him leaving an event to honor his wife doesn't surprise me. Its all about him....JMO

Mark took his girls to a sex date once. The other person had children similar in ages and they played video games while Mark had fun in another part of the house. SOOOOOOOO..... nothing in this case surprises me anymore JMO