Florida doctor 'was beaten to death with a hammer' after a suspicious tan van was spotted in the neighborhood, police reveal as her devastated family attend her funeral
- Teresa Sievers, 46, was found dead in her upscale Florida home on June 25
- After five days searching house, police told neighbors the murder weapon was a hammer and that a 'tan-colored truck' was seen in the driveway
- Her husband and two daughters were with relatives in Connecticut at time
- Physician had flown home alone from the family trip the night before
- Her body was discovered by police after she failed to show up for work
- A private funeral was held on Monday and no arrests have been made
Murder: The neighbors of well-regarded doctor Teresa Ann Sievers (above), say police told them she was killed by a hammer
The neighbors of a well-regarded doctor and mother-of-two who was discovered murdered inside her upscale Florida home have been told a hammer was used in the crime, according to reports.
Dr Teresa Ann Sievers, 46, who operated the Restorative Health & Healing Center in the Estero Medical Center, was found dead at her family's house on Jarvis Road in Bonita Springs on June 29 while her husband and children were with relatives in Connecticut.
Police have not released any information about a possible suspect in the case, but a door was removed from the upscale home as investigators scoured the residence for five days last week.
Neighbors have now told HLN they were informed by police that the murder weapon was a hammer.
The locals also said investigators are searching for a vehicle parked in the driveway of the victim's home on the morning of the murder.
That vehicle was said to be a 'tan-colored truck'.
On Monday, a 'Celebration of Life' was held at the Unity of Naples Church for the doctor, who was known as 'Mother Teresa' for her holistic approach to medicine.
The funeral started at 2pm.
Police have confirmed that the physician - who had flown home alone from the family trip the night before - was the victim of a homicide, but have not confirmed the cause of death or a motive.
Neighbors told last week how they heard pained screams and shouting coming from Sievers' house on the morning of her killing.
'It was early in the morning, before the sun was up… I got up and I heard what was like a shrill, resident Donetta Contreras told WINK News.
She added: 'I have children and I know when a child gets hurt how they’ll have a shrill and to me that’s what it sounded like.'
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Family: Sievers is survived by her husband, Mark and daughters, aged eight and six. Above, the physician poses with her spouse and their children (left), while Mr Sievers and the youngsters play in the snow (right)
Another neighbor, who wished to remain unnamed, told the news station that he heard what sounded like a man arguing with someone inside Sievers' home just before sunrise.
Several hours later, Sievers, the mother of two young daughters, was discovered dead inside her house after she failed to show up for work.
Staff at the doctor's office had called officials at around 9.45am, raising concern about her welfare. They had told dispatchers that Sievers had scheduled several appointments - but had not shown up.
The professional's neighbors said they are now concerned for their own safety - especially because authorities have remained tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding her murder.
'I’m very scared for my safety,' Contreras told WINK News, based in southwest Florida.
Grim discovery: Sievers, 46, was found dead at her family's house on Jarvis Road in Bonita Springs on Monday June 29. Above, officials are seen wheeling her body out of the property following the discovery
Crime scene: After five days searching the Bonita Springs house of Dr Teresa Sievers, police told neighbors the murder weapon was a hammer and that a 'tan-colored truck' was seen in the driveway
However, the Lee County Sheriff's Office said on Wednesday they were pursuing several leads in connection with the slaying and reassured locals that there was no threat to the general population.
Last week, 30 cadets from the Southwest Florida Institute for Public Service arrived at the Sievers' family home to help sheriff's deputies scour the property for evidence.
Staffers from a security company that Sievers and her husband had employed were also on hand to provide assistance.
Several grieving family members arrived on Wednesday afternoon and congregated outside Sievers’ house, watching as police investigated a broken door handle, NBC2 reported.
The 46-year-old victim’s relatives said they remain mystified as to who would want to harm the beloved physician, who dedicated her life to helping women and girls.
‘We don't know anything but that she was murdered,’ said Sievers' sister, Annie Lisa.
Sievers had been in Connecticut with her husband, Mark Sievers, and their daughters, aged eight and 10, and her sister prior to her death. She had flown home alone on Sunday and arrived safely.
Strange noise: Neighbor Donetta Contrera (pictured) said she heard a pained 'shrill' coming from Sievers' home. 'I know when a child gets hurt how they’ll have a shrill and to me that’s what it sounded like,' she said
Search continues: Investigators, deputies and police cadets converged on Sievers' home earlier this week
'She called her husband and told him she got there safely,' Annie Lisa told the News-Press.
Police visited the home on Jarvis Road, owned by Teresa and Mark Sievers, after dispatchers received the call raising concern for Sievers' whereabouts - and discovered her body.
On Tuesday, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office ruled Sievers’ death a homicide.
A sign was put on the door of Sievers' practice on Tuesday morning notifying patients of the doctor's death, according to NBC 2. The practice will be closed until further notice.
Sievers' husband Mark is listed as the office manager at the Restorative Health & Healing Center.
Distraught: Several grieving family members arrived on Wednesday afternoon and congregated outside Sievers’ house, watching as police investigated a broken door handle
The victim's sister Lisa said Sievers was board-certified in internal medicine and held a medical master of science degree in metabolic & nutritional medicine from the University of South Florida.
Lisa added that her sibling had obtained several private certifications in anti-aging, functional, integrative and holistic medicine and transcutaneous acupuncture.
Sievers was born in Ansonia, Connecticut, and moved to Florida in 1996 during her internal medicine residency at UF Health Jacksonville, where she received the resident of the year award.
She relocated to Bonita Springs in 2005. Sievers often appeared on local television programs to discuss women's health issues and wrote for several publications on the subject.
Tragic situation: Staff at Sievers's medical practice erected this notice (pictured) on Tuesday informing patients of the doctor's death. Police were called to her home after she didn't show up to work on Monday
Back in 2012, the doctor was a top five finalist in the Apex Awards presented by the Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Women in Business. In May she graced the cover of eBella Magazine.
'She always wanted to empower women,' said Sharon Hood, the founder and publisher of eBelle.
Speaking to The News-Press, Hood described her late friend as a 'real spitfire' full of energy.
When she was not busy running her practice or giving talks about nutrition and anti-aging, Sievers volunteered with Our Mother's Home, a transitional home for teenage mothers.
An investigation into the doctor's death is ongoing.
- Estero doctor Teresa Sievers killed at Bonita home
- Doctor identified as victim in Bonita Springdeath investigation - NBC-2.com WBBH News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral & Naples, Florida
- Investigation into death of beloved doctor, mother continues - NBC-2.com WBBH News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral & Naples, Florida
- Neighbors desperate for answers in doctor’s murder | WINK NEWS
- Was beloved doctor murdered with hammer? | HLNtv.com
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