In connection with the home invasion death of his wife, whose bullet-riddled body was discovered after she failed to pick up their three children from school, an Illinois man who appeared with his family on the popular game show “Family Feud” has been charged with murder.
Upon his arrest on Monday morning, Timothy Bliefnick, 39, of Quincy, Massachusetts, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion, according to the police.
“This brutal crime has had the Quincy community on edge and our residents living in fear,” Quincy Police Chief Adam Yates said on the department’s Facebook page.
“I hope the announcement made today can start to allay some of those worries.”
Rebecca Bliefnick, 41, the estranged wife of Bliefnick, was discovered dead at her Kentucky Road residence on February 23.
Rebecca’s death occurred during the divorce proceedings between the couple, who wed in 2009, according to KHQA, which cited court records that were later taken down from Illinois’ public records website after a judge ordered them sealed.
The news source claimed that Rebecca, or a neighborhood domestic violence organization acting on her behalf, had requested restraining orders against Tim and his father in the deleted documents.
In 2020, Tim appeared with his family on the popular TV game show “Family Feud,” and KHQA reported on their watch party.
The relief over the arrest was expressed by Rebecca’s family.
The statement they made was quoted by Fox News Digital. “While the arrest today provides a step towards closure, this journey is far from over and the investigation continues,” they said.
Our top priority is still to care for and protect Becky’s sons, who were the joy of her life. We will love and care for them in the ways we know she would want while we continue to grieve, the family said.
Tim had been employed in business development at Quincy Farm Products, per a recent LinkedIn profile cited by KHQA.
Philip Hildebrand Jr., the company’s vice president of finance and administration, told the station that the suspect is no longer an employee and that the company is cooperating with police.
Hildebrand told the outlet, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Rebecca Bliefnick and her family, and we’re hoping for justice.
Tim was being held without bond at the Adams County Jail.
Casey Schnack, his attorney, said in a statement to Fox News Digital that she was putting together a number of court filings “to protect his interests and preserve his constitutional rights.”
Tim had never been arrested before, and the couple’s three sons had never been removed from their home due to domestic abuse, she told the outlet. “I have requested but have not received copies of the charging document and arrest warrant,” she added.
In the interim, an online campaign to raise money for a scholarship in Rebecca’s honor was started.
Despite the circumstances of her passing, her sister Sarah Reilly wrote, “She is remembered for the life she cherished — a life of compassion, generosity, faith, and fierce love for her family.
“She leaves behind three young children as well as a whole neighborhood that adored her. It was no surprise that Becky chose a career in nursing — her true calling — where she could regularly offer care and comfort to people, as she had always pictured herself working hands-on in the medical field.