Timothy “Tim” W. Bliefnick previously appeared in the game show Family Feud where he made a joke about regretting his marriage. Now the Family Feud contestant has been sentenced for the murder of his wife.
As shared via Deadline, he’s “received three life sentences Friday in an Illinois courtroom for the murder of his wife, Rebecca.” They continue to note via news station KHQA that “two of Bliefnick’s life sentences stem from two counts of first-degree murder, while the third life sentence is for his conviction of home invasion.”
Furthermore, because “he was sentenced with ‘natural life’ in prison,” this “means there will be no opportunity for parole, credit for time served, or possibility of release.” He was admonished by Judge Robert Adrian while the sentence was given:
“You researched this murder. You planned this murder. You practiced this murder. You broke into her house and you shot her 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 times. I don’t know how long it took you to do that. Some of those shots were fired while she was lying on the ground, and you did all of that while your children were upstairs at your house, lying snug in their beds.”
Bliefnick did not give a statement during the sentencing. As for the February 23 murder of his wife, the eerie circumstances were described as follows:
“A family member found Rebecca Bliefnick shot to death inside her home after she didn’t show up to pick up her children from school. At the time of her death, the Bliefnicks were going through a divorce.”
As mentioned, Bliefnick made a joke about his wife while appearing on Family Feud three years prior. He appeared on the show with several family members, albeit not his wife, and host Steve Harvey asked the following: “What’s the biggest mistake you made at your wedding?”
“Honey, I love you,” Bliefnick started with his response, “But… Said ‘I do.'”
He continued to say the following after the audience reacted:
“Not my mistake! I love my wife,” he said before adding, “I’m going to get in trouble for that, aren’t I?”
In retrospect, the Family Feud joke was really a disturbing glimpse at what was to come with the murder of his wife.