UPDATE (11AM) -- Jimmy Rodgers appeared in court Friday morning, where the judge scheduled an arraignment on Monday morning at 8:30 in front of Judge Porter.
Mark Sievers also had a first appearance, where he again asked for a reduced bond. His request was denied. His arraignment is also scheduled for Monday.
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FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Jimmy Rodgers, one of the men charged in the murder of Bonita Springs doctor Teresa Sievers, is appearing before a judge to answer to an upgraded murder charge.
Both Rodgers and Teresa's husband Mark Sievers are now charged with first-degree murder, a charge punishable by either death or life in prison, if convicted.
This is the second time Jimmy Rodger's attorneys will be walking through those doors for the second half of his first appearance. Rodgers' first appearance on Thursday was very brief, because his public defender asked the judge to continue the hearing this morning so he and his client can review these new charges.
This is a case that's had a lot of twists and turns. According to a grand jury indictment for both Rodgers and Mark Sievers, both men reportedly began planning Teresa Sievers' murder on April 30th of 2015. The Bonita Springs doctor was was eventually found beaten to death with a hammer inside her home, about two months later on June 29th. Both men now face first-degree murder charges.
Meanwhile, Rodgers is also charged with burglary, while Sievers faces an additional charge of conspiracy to commit murder. Prosecutors say Sievers hired both Rodgers and his childhood best friend Curtis Wright to kill his wife for life insurance money.
And as we've reported, Wright is now serving a 25-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder charges. Under the deal, he's also required to help prosecutors with their case against Sievers and Rodgers.
Rodgers will be in court at 9 am Friday.
