GUILTY IL - Rebecca Bliefnick, 41, mom of 3, fatally shot, Quincy, Feb 2023 *estranged “Family Feud” husband charged*

[imstilla.grandma]

Becky's three sons – ages 12, 10 and 5 – were not at home at the time of the murder. They were staying with their father, Tim Bliefnick, about a mile away. The couple was in the process of getting divorced. Tim says that when he couldn't reach Becky on the 23rd, he contacted her father.

Tim says that when he couldn't reach Becky on the 23rd, he contacted her father.

Tim Bliefnick: He said, 'Hey, I haven't been able to get a hold of her either. I'm gonna go over to the house." … What happened to Becky should have never happened. And it just— it still doesn't—at times, it still just doesn't feel real.

Police quickly determined that the killer had broken into Becky's home by prying open an upstairs window in one of the children's bedrooms. Video shows a police officer later reenacting how investigators believe the assailant scaled the house.

Josh Jones: The person had climbed up on there … there was a patio chair that was pulled over … They walked past Becky's windows in her bedroom … And then they went to a room of one of the boys … and they pried open, broke the window open, uh, went in. … You could almost trace their path … to Becky's room. They had kicked in or broken in the door violently. … Becky then ran into the bathroom turned around and … got shot.

Erin Moriarty: What time do you believe the intruder entered the house?

Josh Jones: So, it would've been around 1:11 in the morning, because we know that at 1:11 and 10 seconds, Becky tried to call 911 on her cell phone. She dialed 9-1-1-2-6. And the phone was knocked out of her hand, and it was found behind the door.

Josh Jones: We thought it was unusual when we saw that. It was like, "OK, what is this?"

A former "Family Feud" contestant convicted of wife's murder speaks out: "I'm innocent. I didn't kill Becky."

Prosecutors say evidence, including damning cellphone searches and texts, led them to Tim Bliefnick for the February murder of Becky Bliefnick.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[MyBelle]

SEP 30, 2023

Family of Rebecca Bliefnick speaks out following 48 Hours special

It has been seven months since the death of Rebecca Bliefnick and a month since Tim Bliefnick was sentenced for the crime.As Rebecca's family continues to move

khqa.com

[...]

"Tim will always assert his innocence," Reilly said. "He was never able to admit to fault or even compromise in life or marriage prior to this happening."

Reilly says this was no surprise to the family.

"I think that he truly believes that he is not at fault for this and that's his own sick and twisted mental illness," said Reilly. "But, none of us are surprised that Tim is claiming innocence. He has nothing else to lose. So, why would he do anything different?"

As this case has received national attention on 48 Hours, Reilly hopes that the integrity of the case and the truth of Becky's life and her death comes through in the most meaningful way

"I hope that you take their words and hear them for what they are meant to be," said Reilly.

[...]

Of course, that is an understandable reaction from her family but I'm not so sure "national attention" is a good thing when it comes to fair trials.

The last nationally prominent case involved a Quincy IL DA who was accused of murdering his wife and I believed he was absolutely guilty. His own daughter thought he was guilty. Then, the truth started spilling out....

He is now a free man.

JMO

Curtis Lovelace wins $4.5M lawsuit against Adams County, Quincy Police

Attorney Curtis Lovelace will receive $4.5 million from a civil lawsuit. Lovelace was indicted eight years after his first wife died when the case was reopen

khqa.com

 

[MargeGunderson]

Wow - his attorney, Casey Schnack (sp?), is so shrill she looses any credibility she might have. She comes across as a deluded family member or girlfriend rather than a professional attorney. Obviously when defense attorneys are interviewed they defend their client and they are hardly going to say 'well yea that evidence looks bad' but her tone and mannerism are just so off-putting that everything she says sounds like a 4 year old whining because mommy won't give her a cookie.

 

[Knox]

Wow - his attorney, Casey Schnack (sp?), is so shrill she looses any credibility she might have. She comes across as a deluded family member or girlfriend rather than a professional attorney. Obviously when defense attorneys are interviewed they defend their client and they are hardly going to say 'well yea that evidence looks bad' but her tone and mannerism are just so off-putting that everything she says sounds like a 4 year old whining because mommy won't give her a cookie.

I was slightly afraid CS might be cause for an appeal (ineffective counsel). I'll leave it at this - you aren't the only one who had thse views of her.

'We are all human beings': Jones upset at online comments about Casey Schnack

Assistant State's Attorney Josh Jones, who tried and convicted Bliefnick on two counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion in the shooting dea

khqa.com

No doubt in my mind Tim murdered Becky, prosecution did an excellent job pulling the case together in such a short time.

 

[cuffem]

Wow - his attorney, Casey Schnack (sp?), is so shrill she looses any credibility she might have. She comes across as a deluded family member or girlfriend rather than a professional attorney. Obviously when defense attorneys are interviewed they defend their client and they are hardly going to say 'well yea that evidence looks bad' but her tone and mannerism are just so off-putting that everything she says sounds like a 4 year old whining because mommy won't give her a cookie.

When they first started her interview I thought she was a friend or family member, not defense attorney. I am happy that I am not the only one to find her way of speech odd.
The thing is there are juries in places that would buy into her defense. I kept thinking either she is an idiot or a genius.

 

[MargeGunderson]

I was slightly afraid CS might be cause for an appeal (ineffective counsel). I'll leave it at this - you aren't the only one who had thse views of her.

When they first started her interview I thought she was a friend or family member, not defense attorney. I am happy that I am not the only one to find her way of speech odd.
The thing is there are juries in places that would buy into her defense. I kept thinking either she is an idiot or a genius.

Both of these thoughts went through my mind. I am a bit concerned about ineffective counsel. If I heard correctly it sounds like she was the divorce attorney who became his defense attorney. That really isn't how that should work. Divorce is not the same thing as a murder trial.

So maybe the fact that she is an idiot will end up being genius for him.

 

[MyBelle]

I was slightly afraid CS might be cause for an appeal (ineffective counsel). I'll leave it at this - you aren't the only one who had thse views of her.

'We are all human beings': Jones upset at online comments about Casey Schnack

Assistant State's Attorney Josh Jones, who tried and convicted Bliefnick on two counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion in the shooting dea

khqa.com

No doubt in my mind Tim murdered Becky, prosecution did an excellent job pulling the case together in such a short time.

I wonder if any of the jurors read those online attacks on the defense attorney or knew about them. Plenty of doubt remains in my mind. Especially considering the couple tried to obtain emergency protection orders against each other and RB also tried to get one against her FIL. All were denied.

MSN

JMO

 

[airportwoman]

Of course, that is an understandable reaction from her family but I'm not so sure "national attention" is a good thing when it comes to fair trials.

The last nationally prominent case involved a Quincy IL DA who was accused of murdering his wife and I believed he was absolutely guilty. His own daughter thought he was guilty. Then, the truth started spilling out....

He is now a free man.

JMO

Curtis Lovelace wins $4.5M lawsuit against Adams County, Quincy Police

Attorney Curtis Lovelace will receive $4.5 million from a civil lawsuit. Lovelace was indicted eight years after his first wife died when the case was reopen

khqa.com

I missed that program, but I'm sure it will air again. I also thought the boys were at school when the crime happened, albeit during a time where they were in their father's custody.

I was living in Quincy when the Lovelace incident happened, and while I didn't know the family, I knew people who did, and a woman I worked with said she wasn't surprised that Mrs. Lovelace had died because she was a really bad alcoholic. One story said that she'd battled that, and before this an eating disorder, and there's a lot of overlap between the two. Their children have suffered so much.

 

[Mama-dukes]

48 Hours put it in context: What he said on Family Feud was actually a correct answer to the question. It had nothing to do with Becky's murder but the DA said it did help bring national attention to the case. I'm wondering now if it also biased the jury pool. It sure biased me.

JMO

Yeah I thought so also I also keep forgetting that he said that before he killed her I think because after it happened they started showing it on the news and whatever else and that’s how I found out so my mind wants 2 keep saying that but it’s still crazy and the video if I was the jury I would have pointed out that video and gave him guilty

 

[MyBelle]

Yeah I thought so also I also keep forgetting that he said that before he killed her I think because after it happened they started showing it on the news and whatever else and that’s how I found out so my mind wants 2 keep saying that but it’s still crazy and the video if I was the jury I would have pointed out that video and gave him guilty

BBM. I wonder if the jury discussed the video or if Judge Adrian saw it and decided it proved his guilt.

I was surprised today to see Inside Edition ran a story and used the 48 Hours story as a basis. I got curious and I googled Judge Robert Adrian. Wow!

TB's attorney told 48 Hours the prosecution didn't prove its case against Tim. I think she's done that because in 2022 Judge Adrian set free an 18-yo convicted rapist after only a few months in jail. Judge Adrian claimed the prosecution hadn't proved its case and also kicked the prosecutor out of his courtroom. For any Judge to say that a few months in jail was "plenty of punishment" for raping a teen girl blows my mind.

There have been public protests about Judge Adrian, and the Illinois Judicial Board filed a complaint. The trial for Judge Adrian is in November because Adrian lied in his testimony to them.


JMO

Adrian trial before Illinois Courts Commission set for Nov. 7-9 in Chicago – Muddy River News

QUINCY — A trial for Eighth Judicial Circuit Judge Robert Adrian before the Illinois Courts Commission was set for November during a brief Zoom meeting Thursday morning. Cook County Circuit Court Judge Lewis Nixon set the trial for Nov. 7-9 in Chicago at a location to be determined. Nixon...

muddyrivernews.com

...Adrian also allegedly testified that his reversal was not an effort to “thwart the law.” The JIB alleged in its complaint that this testimony was false, and Adrian knew it was false when he made the statements.

Adams County judge under fire again

RELATED:Illinois Supreme Court won't order sentence in sex assault. RELATED: Quincy sexual assault survivor speaks out after conviction overturned.

khqa.com

Judge Adrian found Drew S. Clinton guilty on one count of criminal sexual assault, which involved a minor female at a graduation party in Quincy. After a three-day bench trial in October, Judge Adrian threw out the conviction at the sentencing.

When Judge Adrian switched his own verdict to not guilty he stated that spending 148 days in jail was plenty of punishment.

‘Family Feud’ Murderer Says He’s Innocent

A former “Family Feud” contestant convicted of murdering his estranged wife is speaking out for the first time to “48 Hours” correspondent Erin Moriarty.

www.insideedition.com

 

[cuffem]

I missed that program, but I'm sure it will air again. I also thought the boys were at school when the crime happened, albeit during a time where they were in their father's custody.

I was living in Quincy when the Lovelace incident happened, and while I didn't know the family, I knew people who did, and a woman I worked with said she wasn't surprised that Mrs. Lovelace had died because she was a really bad alcoholic. One story said that she'd battled that, and before this an eating disorder, and there's a lot of overlap between the two. Their children have suffered so much.

48 Hours - True crime stories and crime news - Watch Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Visit 48 Hours on CBSNews.com: Watch videos, browse photographs and read more about 48 Hours episodes and features.

www.cbsnews.com

I believe you can currently watch it here online.

 

[Knox]

Yeah I thought so also I also keep forgetting that he said that before he killed her I think because after it happened they started showing it on the news and whatever else and that’s how I found out so my mind wants 2 keep saying that but it’s still crazy and the video if I was the jury I would have pointed out that video and gave him guilty

I never gave the game show appearance or answer a second thought. He was on a game show in 2020 and answered a question within the context it was asked. Three years later he murders Becky, how could that be related to his decision to kill his wife?

IMO, the evidence offered at trial regarding the TRO's each of them filed on the other and how they fought over every little thing spoke volumes. The evidence presented at trial sealed his fate - to even think the game show appearance biased the jury is ridiculous.

 

[Knox]

Family of Rebecca Bliefnick speaks out following 48 Hours special​

Tim Bliefnick was sentenced to three life sentences in August, but he continues to maintain his innocence and denies killing his estranged wife on the night of February 23rd.

"Tim will always assert his innocence," Reilly said. "He was never able to admit to fault or even compromise in life or marriage prior to this happening."

Reilly says this was no surprise to the family.

"I think that he truly believes that he is not at fault for this and that's his own sick and twisted mental illness," said Reilly. "But, none of us are surprised that Tim is claiming innocence. He has nothing else to lose. So, why would he do anything different?"

Family of Rebecca Bliefnick speaks out following 48 Hours special

It has been seven months since the death of Rebecca Bliefnick and a month since Tim Bliefnick was sentenced for the crime.As Rebecca's family continues to move

khqa.com

 

[MargeGunderson]

I never gave the game show appearance or answer a second thought. He was on a game show in 2020 and answered a question within the context it was asked. Three years later he murders Becky, how could that be related to his decision to kill his wife?

IMO, the evidence offered at trial regarding the TRO's each of them filed on the other and how they fought over every little thing spoke volumes. The evidence presented at trial sealed his fate - to even think the game show appearance biased the jury is ridiculous.

I agree. This is Family Feud. The point is to give that kind of answer. It was the first answer I thought of when I heard the question too and I've been happily married for over 30 years and have no plans to kill my spouse. There was plenty of evidence to convict. This isn't a case of one bad soundbite and a rush to judgement.

In the 48 hours interview the defense attorney said that it might have been a contentious divorce but not worth killing over because they were fighting about were little things. But it's actually the opposite. That's not suggestive of innocence. It speaks volumes in a negative way about the relationship.

 

[Mama-dukes]

I never gave the game show appearance or answer a second thought. He was on a game show in 2020 and answered a question within the context it was asked. Three years later he murders Becky, how could that be related to his decision to kill his wife?

IMO, the evidence offered at trial regarding the TRO's each of them filed on the other and how they fought over every little thing spoke volumes. The evidence presented at trial sealed his fate - to even think the game show appearance biased the jury is ridiculous.

I know it’s not but that doesn’t help

 

[Gardenista]

48 Hours put the episode up on their YT channel. Their edit of his attorney makes her look like a complete fool. She has to be hating that she participated.

 

[Mert]

This sad story is currently on ABC, a special 20/20.

Tim is such a gross creep. I feel so much for Becky, her family and children.

 

[Teche]

This sad story is currently on ABC, a special 20/20.

Tim is such a gross creep. I feel so much for Becky, her family and children.

I watched it, too. This is a sad case. Becky’s interview was heartfelt and difficult.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

When Bliefnick appeared on the show, host Steve Harvey asked the question: "What's the biggest mistake you made at your wedding?"
After Bliefnick's fellow contestants give their answers, Harvey turned to Bliefnick, who said: "Honey, I love you, but 'Said I do.'"

The answer received a widespread groan from the audience before Bliefnick added, "Not my mistake, not my mistake – I love my wife."
Just three years later, Bliefnick's wife and the mother of his three children, Rebecca Postle Bliefnick, was killed during a home invasion.

Family Feud contestant who made shocking answer on game show gets life in prison for killing wife

Timothy Bliefnick appeared on the game show in 2019 and was sentenced to life in 2023.

www.unilad.com

 

[MyBelle]

Judge in Bliefnick case removed from the bench because of another case. I wonder how this will affect Bliefnick's appeal.

JMO

Illinois Courts Commission rules Adrian to be removed immediately as Eighth Circuit judge – Muddy River News

QUINCY — The Illinois Courts Commission ruled Friday afternoon that the Judicial Inquiry Board proved “by clear and convincing evidence” that Eighth Circuit Judge Robert Adrian gave untruthful testimony before the Board constituting “willful misconduct” and has ordered him removed from office...

muddyrivernews.com