UPDATE (3:45 PM)-- Jimmy Rodgers has been sentenced to Life in Prison for the death of Teresa Sievers.
#BREAKING: Judge Bruce Kyle has adjudicated Rodgers' guilty of second-degree murder and trespassing, and sentenced Rodgers' to life in prison.
— Sandra Rodriguez (@SandraR_media) December 12, 2019
UPDATE (2:15 PM) -- Jimmy Rodgers’ older brother, Jackie Rodgers, was next on the stand.
Jackie says he grew up with a loving mother, but after Jimmy Rodgers was born, things changed. He says their mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia, struggled with her mental issues and had a drinking problem.
Assistant State Attorney Hamid Hunter requested the court impose the highest sentence of life in prison, based on his prior felony convictions.
— Sandra Rodriguez (@SandraR_media) December 12, 2019
J. Rodgers says their father would always talk poorly to Jimmy Rodgers.
— Sandra Rodriguez (@SandraR_media) December 12, 2019
He would tell him why didn't he kill himself as our mother did, said Jackie Rodgers.
He says this happened when Jimmy Rodgers was 5 or 6 years old.
Jackie Rodgers says he was 22 years old trying to care for Jimmy Rodgers who was struggling with emotional issues.
— Sandra Rodriguez (@SandraR_media) December 12, 2019
"One of the biggest things I regret is that my brother needed more then I could give him at that time," said Jackie.
*Both brother are very emotional*
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UPDATE (2:00 PM) -- The sentencing hearing for Jimmy Rodgers is under way.
Rodgers entered the courtroom wearing his jail jumpsuit and in handcuffs.
The state called witness Tina Carver to the stand. The forensic supervisor says she conducted a latent examination on Rodgers' fingerprints.
Next up was Teresa Sievers' mother, Mary Ann Groves. She addressed the court, surrounded by Teresa's siblings. Groves says Teresa's loss has impacted many people, especially her daughters. Groves requested the court sentence Rodgers with the maximum penalty.
The state then rested its case.
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LEE COUNTY, Fla -- As we await to learn if Mark Sievers will in fact get the death penalty that the jury recommended, sentencing for Jimmy Rodgers will begin Thursday.
A jury convicted Rodgers of second-degree murder in October, for helping carry out the killing of Dr. Teresa Sievers.
Unlike the penalty phase for Mark Sievers which took place Tuesday, the death penalty is not on the table for Jimmy Rodgers with a second-degree murder charge. Instead, the state will try and prove that he should get life in prison.
However, similar to Mark Sievers' penalty phase, we do expect Teresa Sievers' family to take the stand again to give impact statements.
We can expect more emotional moments in the courtroom, just as we saw during impact statements for mark's trial.
"The weekend of June 26, 2015 started as one of the happiest weekends of my life. I was on vacation with my four children. I always ended these family visits with a photo of all of us. But little did I realize that that would be the last family photo I would take with all my children,” said Teresa Sievers’ mother, Mary Ann Groves.
Rodgers was one of Mark Sievers’ conspirators who helped carry out the murder of Teresa Sievers. The other man who helped kill her was Mark's best friend, Curtis Wright, who agreed to a plea deal for a 25-year sentence.
Sentencing for Jimmy Rodgers is expected to begin at 1:30 p.m.
