Man charged with murdering estranged wife: A closer look at Tim Bliefnick

QUINCY, Ill. (KHQA) — The estranged husband of Rebecca Bliefnick, who was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds in February, is officially a suspect in her homicide.

Tim Bliefnick, 39, of Quincy, was arrested on Monday, March 13, 2023, and is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and home invasion.

His arrest comes 12 days after police searched his home, located at 1641 Hampshire Street in Quincy, on March 1.

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The couple reportedly married in 2009, but at the time of her death, they were going through divorce proceedings. They had separated for about two years before Rebecca’s Bliefnick’s death, according to online court records that were removed shortly after the homicide investigation began.

In fact, several court documents were taken down from Illinois’ public records website, Judici.

The documents involved the couple and another family member in which orders of protection were filed. Rebecca Bliefnick, or a local domestic violence agency working on her behalf, filed the first restraining order against Tim Bliefnick. She later had also filed one against her father-in-law.

Sometime later, Tim Bliefnick filed one against his estranged wife.

KHQA News reached out to the Adams County circuit clerk who told us the case files regarding the Bliefnicks’ restraining orders and divorce proceedings were removed from Judici after Judge Debra Wellborn ordered them sealed.

The records were sealed on the court's own motion, according to Casey Schnack, the defense attorney for Tim Bliefnick.

According to a recent LinkedIn profile, which has either been scrubbed from the web or made private, Tim Bliefnick had been working at Quincy Farm Products in business development.

Philip J. Hildebrand Jr., the company's vice president of finance and administration, told KHQA News that Bliefnick is no longer an employee.

Hildebrand said the business has been fully cooperating with the Quincy Police Department in this case.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Rebecca Bliefnick and her family, and we're hoping for justice," Hildebrand said.

Three years ago, Tim Bliefnick also appeared with his family on the popular game show "Family Feud." Subsequently, KHQA News reported on the Bliiefnick's game show appearance and watch party.

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Tim Bliefnick, who is originally from Decatur, is a graduate of Quincy University, QU, and was inducted in to QU's 2019 Sports Hall of Fame for football.

Bliefnick is currently in the Adams County Jail. He was denied bond at a hearing Tuesday, March 14.

Rebecca Bliefnick, 41, a nurse at Blessing Hospital and mother of three boys, was found dead at her home in Quincy by a family member after she didn’t pick up her children from school.

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