Mark Sievers files not guilty plea in wife’s death

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FILE Photo of Mark Sievers mugshot from 2016 – Photo courtesy of Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

FORT MYERS, Fla.- Mark Sievers entered a written plea of not guilty for the death of his wife, Teresa Sievers, on Thursday.

Mark Sievers is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly planning the murder of his wife who was found bludgeoned to death in their Bonita Springs home on June 29, 2015.

The not guilty plea comes one day after the public defender’s office was removed from representing Mark Sievers in court. The office said the interests of Sievers are so adverse and hostile to those of another client, they asked a judge to be taken off the case citing a conflict of interest.

Jimmy Rodgers, who’s also facing charges in Teresa Sievers’ death, is being represented by the public defender’s office as well.

On Monday, Teresa Sievers’ mother, Mary Ann Groves, filed a petition for temporary custody of her two granddaughters. The 11-year-old and 9-year-old girls stayed with family friends before moving into Groves’ Estero home while their father, Mark Sievers, is in jail.

In her petition, Groves says she has been caring for them full-time as a substitute parent.

“As a result of the father’s alleged acts and the resulting loss of their mother, the children have suffered severe psychological and emotional harm,” the petition states.

Mark Sievers has 20 days to respond to the petition. He’ll be in court next month for a hearing regarding custody of his two children not related to the petition.

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