Teresa Sievers
had it all. Great looks, a brilliant brain, a bright future in the medical field, a supportive family, two daughters, and a husband who worshipped her.
Her life was cut short on June 28, 2015. Teresa (45) was bludgeoned to death. That does not even begin to describe the violent way in which she was attacked. That chapter is horrible to read so a word of caution here. More on that at the end of this book review.
Teresa was found dead in her home in Bonita Springs, Florida. The murder weapon was a hammer. It had been wielded by two men: Curtis Wayne Wright Jr. and Jimmy Ray Rodgers.
These two men had criminal records, yes, however, they were not hired killers. Hired killers have plans. They explore the area, observe the victim’s habits, the locations they frequent, and they usually pick a weapon that distances them from the victim and the scene such as guns or explosives. These two men drove from Missouri to Florida with a half-baked plan. They were caught on CCTV shopping and getting gas at the pump. They had not discussed what weapon to use or who would do what in which order upon arrival in the victim’s home.
Mikita Brottman takes us through the story from the early days of Teresa’s marriage to Mark Sievers, their careers, Teresa’s ambitions, and the trouble within the marriage.
The family lived beyond their means and if that was not enough their attitudes to each other changed. Teresa wanted more. She wanted to be a TV celebrity promoting health through supplements and non-traditional healing methods. A lot of money was spent on conferences and travel. Despite her efforts, Teresa never became a TV star or household name. This alone would be enough to create tension in a marriage but there was more. They started swinging. All of this led to an unhealthy environment in which slights became resentments and fantasies enhanced already present jealousy until one day, the husband had enough.
What he did is all over the Internet. This book explains in detail how he did it, what was said at the trial, what exactly the connection was between Mark Sievers, Curtis Wayne Wright Jr., and Jimmy Ray Rodgers, and how law enforcement was able to build their case against them.
The pace is great. I read the book in one sitting. After that, I had trouble digesting what I read. How these men were connected, their partners, their families, their pasts, all so intertwined. At times I wanted to tell Teresa to wake up. How much money are you willing to risk?
From the moment the author introduces us to Curtis Wayne Wright Jr. you know deceit will follow. When Jimmy Ray Rodgers enters the story, you know what crime they will commit.
This book is well written. The author explains forensics, the Florida criminal justice system, and various aspects of homicide. She never speculates or makes the crime scene more graphic than it really was. If the story troubles you, it is because three men made it so. You just hope that Teresa’s daughters will be ok.
You can find out more about the case online. The author’s website is here.
This book will come out September 29, 2026.
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Full book title: A Double Life, the Anatomy of a Premeditated Murder.
Note: I received an Advance Reader’s Edition from Ann Pryor at Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. My other book reviews are here.