A woman told her sister that if anything ever happened to her, that her husband should be the prime suspect, a court heard.
Rebecca “Becky” Bliefnick was found dead at her home in Illinois on 23 February, and it's alleged that her husband, Timothy Bliefnick, broke into her home and shot her.
The couple were going through a bitter divorce at the time, both fighting for custody of their three children.
Timothy, 39, had previously appeared on Family Feud, a popular gameshow that sees five members of one family pitted against five members of another.
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Following Becky's death, her husband was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, and one count of a home invasion.
Reporting the charges at the time, Quincy Police Chief Adam Yates said: “This brutal crime has had the Quincy community on edge and our residents living in fear.
“I hope today’s announcement can begin to calm some of those concerns.”
Following the arrest, Becky's family said they were relieved by the news.
“While the arrest today provides a step towards closure, this journey is far from over and the investigation continues,” they said.
“Our highest priority remains protecting and loving Becky’s sons who were the lights of her life. As we continue mourning, we will love and care for them in the ways we know she would want."
And during a court hearing, it was heard that Becky had text her sister, Sarah Reilly, warning her that she should be wary of Timothy if anything were to happen to her.
“'If something ever happens to me, make sure the No. 1 person of interest is Tim.'" the text read.
“'I am putting this in writing that I’m fearful he will somehow harm me, come after me, or will try to [do] something to me that takes me away from the kids or the kids away from me.
“'He already has lied multiple times to paint himself as a victim and me as the perpetrator when it is absolutely the other way around'.”
Becky's lawyers claim that Timothy broke in through a second floor window and took her gun before shooting her 14 times.
The court heard that in September 2021, the 41-year-old expressed fears about what her estranged husband might do to her.
In a text, she wrote that a co-worker at the hospital had been murdered by her ex and she 'literally had a panic attack' wondering what Timothy could do.
Becky's family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for her children.
Topics: Crime, US News, Sex and Relationships, True Crime
Dominic Smithers