Family Feud contestant found guilty of breaking his estranged wife's home and shooting her dead

A former contestant on Family Feud has been found guilty of breaking into the home of his estranged wife before shooting her dead.

Timothy Bliefnick, 40, refused to testify in his own defense after being accused of killing Becky Bliefnick, 41, on February 2 in Quincy, Illinois.

The mother-of-three was found dead in her home by her father after her family became concerned that she had not picked up her sons from school.

She was shot 14 times, and court records show that the couple had separated and were going through a messy divorce.

Bliefnick did not present a defense to the claims but previously pleaded not guilty, and will be sentenced on August 11.

Becky Bliefnick (left) was  found dead in her home by her father after her family became concerned that she had not picked up her sons from school

Timothy Bliefnick, 40, refused to testify in his own defense after being accused of killing his estranged wife in Quincy, Illinois 

Bliefnick appeared on ABC's Family Feud in 2020, and he joked with the host Steve Harvey that somebody's 'biggest wedding mistake' would likely be getting married at all 

Prosecutors say he used a crowbar to break into the property through a second-story window before shooting his estranged wife in the bathroom.

Becky had also sent a chilling message to her sister Sarah Reilly before she died, warning that if anything happened to her, 'the No.1 person of interest is Tim'.

'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,' she said.

In a statement after the verdict, Becky's family said: 'We should not be living in a world where a crime like this is possible. We should not have to suffer a life without Becky who was robbed of her life in the most hateful, cowardly and cruel way.

'Her boys were robbed of a loving, devoted mother. I was robbed of my sister and best friend.

'My parents were robbed of their daughter, and as a parent myself, I cannot imagine a greater torture.

'Becky was a niece, an aunt and a cousin; a friend, a colleague and a caregiver. All those who love her carry heavy heartache in the wake of this tragedy.

'The judicial process cannot bring her back nor can it heal our wounds, but we are relieved that the verdict delivers justice, and we are thankful for all who made it a reality.

'As a family of faith, we are deeply thankful for our family, friends and the complete strangers who have rallied around us and prayed for us during these incredibly dark days.'

Bliefnick (pictured right as his home was raided in March) was 'very cooperative' with officers, and handed over his keys to the home, which he rents, and his car

The court heard Bliefnick researched ways to commit the crime on Google before riding to Becky's home on a bicycle

Bliefnick and Becky has three sons together but were living separately at the time of her death, with court records showing their split was filed in February 2021 

Becky's family said their priority was now raising her three young children.

'We live with the hope that the worst moment of our lives cannot define who we are, as we pick up the pieces to raise Becky's boys in the way we know she would want,' they said.

'While life cannot be normal in the ways it once was, such love and support does help restore the belief that the world does, in fact, have more good than evil.

'As they go forward with the certain truth that their father murdered their mother, we ask that you keep Becky's three, incredible boys in your prayers.

'We will move forward by leaning on each other—and our faith—for healing. We will speak of Becky warmly and often, remembering the way she lived and loved, not the way she died. She will be missed forever and loved always.'

The court heard Bliefnick researched ways to commit the crime on Google, before riding to her home on a bicycle.

Investigators retrieved dozens of shell casings in the basement that the state police lab found was fired from the same gun as eight recovered from the crime scene.

The couple had separated and were going through a messy divorce when Becky was shot 14 times according to investigators

Becky had also sent a chilling message to her sister Sarah Reilly (right) before she died, warning that if anything happened to her, 'the No.1 person of interest is Tim'

The nurse (left), had previously filed a restraining order against her estranged husband (right) and his father before she was then hit with a restraining order by her husband

Before the shooting, Bliefnick had taken his wife's gun and refused to give it back, her attorney revealed. 

Officers didn't find the murder weapon, though Becky's handgun remains missing and forensic experts say it was among several models which could have matched the casings.

In the weeks after her death, Bliefnick attended her wake, but not her funeral as he didn't want to be a 'distraction'.

Police described him as being 'cooperative', after swooping on his property shortly before arresting him. 

His lawyers also accused Quincy Police Department of failing to 'follow up' on claims that Becky was being stalked but did not release any further information or evidence to back up their claims.

Becky's family have branded the killing as 'hateful, cowardly and cruel', and vowed to not shy away from telling the boys who killed their mother 

Prosecutors say he used a crowbar to break into the property (pictured) through a second-story window before shooting his estranged wife in the bathroom

The couple had three sons together, but were living separately at the time of Becky's death, with court records showing their split was filed in February 2021.

Court records show that the couple, who married in 2009, was going through a contentious divorce and had both filed restraining orders against each other.

Quincy Police said the murder was an unusual act of domestic violence in an otherwise safe town.

Bliefnick appeared on ABC's Family Feud in 2020, and he joked with the host Steve Harvey that somebody's 'biggest wedding mistake' would likely be getting married at all. 

'Honey, I love you,' said Bliefnick, addressing his wife, before adding cautiously, 'Said, 'I do'?' His response evoked laughter and gasps from the crowd and a blank stare from Harvey.

The episode was recorded in the fall of 2019 but aired in the spring of 2020, according to ABC.