Family Feud participant found guilty of breaking into his estranged wife’s home and shooting her dead
A former Family Feud contestant has been found guilty of breaking into his estranged wife’s home before shooting her to death.
Timothy Bliefnick, 40, declined to testify in his own defense after being charged with the February 2 murder of Becky Bliefnick, 41, in Quincy, Illinois.
The mother of three was found dead in her home by her father after her family became concerned that she had failed to pick up her sons from school.
She was shot 14 times and court records show that the couple had broken up and went through a messy divorce.
Bliefnick did not defend the claims, but rather pleaded not guilty and will be sentenced on August 11.
Becky Bliefnick (left) was found dead in her home by her father after her family became concerned she had failed to pick up her sons from school
Timothy Bliefnick, 40, refused to testify in his own defense after being charged with the murder of his estranged wife in Quincy, Illinois
Bliefnick appeared on ABC’s Family Feud in 2020, and he joked with host Steve Harvey that one’s “biggest marriage mistake” was probably getting married in the first place.
Prosecutors say he used a crowbar to force his way into the property through a second-story window before shooting his estranged wife in the bathroom.
Becky had also sent a chilling message to her sister Sarah Reilly before she died, warning that if anything were to happen to her, “Tim is the most important person.”
“I put this on paper that I am afraid he will somehow harm me, come after me or try to [do] something for me that keeps me away from the kids or takes the kids away from me,” she said.
In a statement following the ruling, Becky’s family said: “We shouldn’t live in a world where a crime like this is possible. We shouldn’t live life without Becky, who was robbed of her life in the most hateful, cowardly and cruel way.
“Her boys were bereft of a loving, devoted mother. I have been robbed of my sister and best friend.
“My parents have been robbed of their daughter and as a parent I cannot imagine a greater torture.
“Becky was a niece, an aunt, and a cousin; a friend, a colleague and a caretaker. All who love her bear heavy grief in the aftermath of this tragedy.
“The legal process cannot bring her back and it cannot heal our wounds, but we are relieved that the verdict does justice and we are grateful to everyone who made it a reality.
“As a family of believers, we are deeply grateful to our family, friends and the complete strangers who have gathered around us and prayed for us during these incredibly dark days.”
Bliefnick (pictured right when his house was raided in March) was “very cooperative” with officers and handed over his keys to the house, which he rents, and his car
The court heard that Bliefnick was researching ways to commit the crime on Google before riding his bike to Becky’s house
Bliefnick and Becky have three sons together but were living separately at the time of her death, court documents show their split was filed in February 2021.
Becky’s family said their priority now was raising her three young children.
“We live with the hope that the worst moment of our lives can’t define who we are as we pick up the pieces to raise Becky’s boys the way we know she would like,” they said.
“While life cannot be normal as it once was, such love and support help restore the belief that, in fact, the world has more good than evil.
As they press on with the certain truth that their father killed their mother, we ask that you keep Becky’s three incredible boys in your prayers.
“We will move forward by leaning on each other — and on our faith — for healing. We will speak of Becky warmly and often, remembering the way she lived and loved, not the way she died. She will be forever missed and always loved.”
The court heard that Bliefnick was researching ways to commit the crime on Google before riding her bicycle to her home.
Investigators retrieved dozens of shell casings from the basement that the state police lab found were fired from the same gun as eight found at the crime scene.
The couple had broken up and were going through a messy divorce when Becky was shot 14 times, according to investigators
Becky had also sent a chilling message to her sister Sarah Reilly (right) before she died, warning that if anything were to happen to her, ‘Tim is the most important person’
The nurse (left) had previously filed a restraining order against her estranged husband (right) and his father before being slapped with a restraining order by her husband
Before the shooting, Bliefnick had taken his wife’s gun and refused to return it, her lawyer revealed.
Officers have not found the murder weapon, although Becky’s gun is still missing and forensic experts say it was one of several models that could match the casings.
In the weeks following her death, Bliefnick attended her wake, but not her funeral because he didn’t want to be a “distraction.”
Police described him as “cooperative” after breaking into his property shortly before his arrest.
His lawyers also accused Quincy police of failing to follow up on claims that Becky was being stalked, but did not release any further information or evidence to support their claims.
Becky’s family labeled the murder “hateful, cowardly and cruel” and vowed not to shy away from telling the boys who killed their mother.
Prosecutors say he used a crowbar to break into the property (pictured) through a second-floor window before shooting his estranged wife in the bathroom
The couple had three sons together, but were living separately at the time of Becky’s death, and court documents show their split was filed in February 2021.
Court records show that the couple, who married in 2009, went through a contentious divorce and both filed restraining orders against each other.
Quincy police said the murder was an unusual act of domestic violence in an otherwise safe city.
Appearing on ABC’s Family Feud in 2020, Bliefnick joked with host Steve Harvey that one’s “biggest marriage mistake” would probably be getting married.
“Honey, I love you,” Bliefnick said, turning to his wife, before adding gently, “Did I say,”?” His reaction brought laughter and sobs from the crowd and a blank stare from Harvey.
The episode was filmed in fall 2019, but aired in spring 2020, according to ABC.