A former contestant on the US game show Family Feud is standing trial in Illinois for the murder of his estranged wife. Tim Bliefnick, 39, is charged with first-degree murder and home invasion after allegedly breaking into Becky Bliefnick's home and shooting her 14 times.
Prosecutors allege that Bliefnick used a crowbar to pry open a second-storey window on 23 February, then shot his 41-year-old wife. The couple was in the final stages of a contentious divorce at the time. The trial at Adams County Courthouse in Quincy heard that shell casings found in Bliefnick's basement matched those near the victim's body, and his DNA was found on a bag at his home.
The case has drawn attention due to Bliefnick's appearance on Family Feud in 2020, where host Steve Harvey asked contestants to name the worst mistake on their wedding night. Bliefnick answered 'saying I do', a response that ranked second on the board. The comment now appears ominous in light of the murder charges.
Becky Bliefnick, a nurse and mother of three, was described in her obituary as compassionate and generous. She had worked as a travel nurse during the pandemic. Her body was discovered by her father after she failed to pick up her sons from school. Prosecutors said she was left 'terrified, bleeding, and alone'.
Evidence presented includes chilling online searches from Bliefnick's devices for phrases such as 'how to wash off gunpowder' and 'how to open a door with a crowbar'. A friend testified that Becky had texted in 2021 expressing fear that her husband would harm her. If convicted, Bliefnick faces between 45 years and life in prison.
