By Neirin Gray Desai and Emma James for Dailymail.Com
02.35 16 March 2023, updated 07.45 16 March 2023
- Timothy Bliefnick, accused of killing his wife, joked that many people regret getting married
- He appeared on the TV show Family Feud in 2020, hosted by Steve Harvey
- Bliefnick is accused of fatally shooting his wife in their hometown of Quincy, IL
An Illinois man arrested for killing his wife appeared on the TV show ‘Family Feud’ three years ago and joked with host Steve Harvey that anyone’s ‘biggest wedding mistake’ was probably getting married at all .
As part of the game show, Harvey asked Timothy Bliefnick, 39, to predict the most common answer to the question: ‘What’s the biggest mistake you made at your wedding?’
‘Honey, I love you,’ Bliefnick said, turning to his own wife before carefully adding: ‘Said, “I do”?’ His response drew laughs and gasps from the crowd and a blank stare from Harvey.
Bliefnick appeared in court Tuesday after being accused of fatally shooting his estranged wife, who was also the mother of his three children.
Rebecca Bliefnick, 41, was found dead in her home by a family member on February 23 after they became concerned that she had not picked up her three children from their school in Quincy, Illinois.
The episode was taped in fall 2019 but aired in spring 2020, according to ABC.
Family Feud requires contestants to guess the most typical answers to certain questions. After Bliefnick gave his answer to the biggest question about wedding mistakes, Harvey gave him a judgmental look.
‘Not my fault, not my fault. I love my wife,” Bliefnick said. ‘I’m going to get in trouble for that, aren’t I?’
“It’s going to be hell to pay at your place,” Harvey replied. ‘Now the only chance this has of being okay for the watch party is if it’s on the board and it has to be number two or three.’
“Because if it’s number seven and only two people said it, that puts you in the asshole category,” Harvey added.
But Bliefnick’s guess was good, as regretting the marriage was the second most common response to the question. Of the 100 people who had been asked the question, it appeared that 20 had given that answer.
Officers arrived at Timothy’s home on Monday morning, two weeks after they searched the same property on Hampshire Street.
He appeared in the Adams County Courthouse Tuesday on charges of killing his wife and home invasion, but did not enter a plea. It was stipulated that he would remain in custody until the next court hearing.
The house is just a mile away from Rebecca’s home on Kentucky Road, where she lived with their three sons before she was shot and killed. Prosecutors branded her death as ‘domestic violence’.
Rebecca, a nurse, had previously filed a restraining order against Tim and his father before she was then hit with a restraining order by her husband.
Prosecutors say the crime was not a random act.
Assistant State Attorney Josh Jones said: ‘This is an act of domestic violence. Every victim needs to be seen, heard and believed.
“While our thoughts and prayers are with Rebecca Bliefnick’s family and her children, our focus and efforts remain on bringing her killer to justice.”
He reportedly attended her wake but skipped her funeral because he didn’t want to be a distraction.
But his lawyer insists Rebecca’s estranged husband is innocent, telling Fox News Digital she was preparing a series of lawsuits to ‘protect his interests and preserve his constitutional rights’.
Casey Schnack added: ‘I have requested but not received copies of the charging document and the arrest warrant. We will evaluate his case and make decisions as more information comes in.
‘Seeking an OP in a divorce is not uncommon gameplay in Adams County. The State Attorney needs a narrative. Domestic violence seems to be that narrative.’
She also confirmed that Bliefnick had no prior arrests and that their children had never been removed from the home due to domestic violence.
A GoFundMe set up by Rebecca’s sister has raised more than $70,000 of a $100,000 goal, which will fund her funeral and care for her three children.
Her sister Sarah wrote: ‘Despite the circumstances surrounding her death, she will be remembered for the life she loved – a life marked by compassion, generosity, faith and fierce love for her family.
‘She leaves behind three young children and a whole community that loved her more than anything.
‘Becky had always envisioned herself working hands-on in the medical profession, so it was no surprise when she chose a career in nursing – her true calling – where she was able to provide care and comfort to people on a daily basis basis.’
Bliefnick appeared on Family Feud with his mother, brothers and father in 2021, but not his estranged wife.
Business developer Bliefnick was ‘very co-operative’ with officers when they raided his property on March 1 and handed over his keys to the house he rents and his car.
Bliefnick was stopped by officers outside the property and taken to a relative’s house after the conversation with the officers, according to the Muddy River News.
A spokesman for Rebecca’s family said of the arrest: ‘While we are heartbroken, we are grateful to the Quincy Police Department and everyone who worked tirelessly in the service of justice for Becky.
“While the arrest is a step toward closure, this journey is far from over and the investigation continues. We are grateful for your continued respect for our privacy as we navigate this next painful chapter.
‘Our highest priority remains to protect and love Becky’s sons who were the lights of her life. As we continue to grieve, we will love and care for them in the ways we know she would want.
‘We appreciate any support from our GoFundMe, which was set up to support her boys’ future, offset family expenses related to Becky’s death and to establish a scholarship fund in Becky’s name.
‘The support for our family means so much and really speaks volumes for Becky’s impact on the world.’
Rebecca and Tim are believed to have married in 2009, but at the time of her death they were going through divorce proceedings, although nothing was final.
The couple have three sons together but were living separately at the time of her death, with court records showing their separation was filed in February 2021.
Concerned family members raised the alarm after Rebecca, a nurse, failed to pick up her three sons from school.
Officers responded to her home at 3:32 p.m. and have remained on scene since, removing evidence from the property.
Police Chief Adam Yates said such a violent crime is ‘rare’ in the small town of just 40,000 people.
In a statement, he said: ‘On February 23, Rebecca Bliefnick, a 41-year-old mother of three, was found shot to death in her home in the 2500 Block of Kentucky Road. Since that day, detectives with the Quincy Police Department have been working, non-stop, gathering information, gathering evidence and piecing together the events that led to Ms. Bliefnick’s death.
‘I would like to remind everyone that in our criminal justice system individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A lot of work went into getting to this point in the investigation.
‘There is still much work to be done and the investigation continues, but today’s development is a significant step forward in the search for justice for Rebecca. I am very proud of the men and women of the Quincy Police Department.
“It is also important to acknowledge that the public’s assistance and cooperation was key to moving this investigation forward. This brutal crime has the Quincy community on edge and our residents living in fear.
‘I hope that today’s announcement can begin to allay some of these concerns. That said, it’s a good reminder not to get complacent.
‘Be sure to lock your doors, turn on outside lights, be aware of your surroundings and report suspicious activity to the police.
‘These are things we should always do. We must look out for each other and work together to make Quincy as safe as possible.
‘To Mrs. Bliefnick’s family, nothing we do as a police department will ever bring Rebecca back to you and her three boys.
‘All we can do is use our tools, talents and every available resource to bring you justice. Our thoughts and prayers remain with you.’