Timothy Bliefnick, 39, has been accused of murdering his wife in her home (Picture: Adams County Jail)
A man accused of killing his estranged wife after joking about marriage being a mistake on a game show has denied murder.
Timothy Bliefnick, 39, said he did not shoot his wife Rebecca Bliefnick, 41, who was found dead at her home in the city of Quincy, Illinois, on February 23.
Her body was discovered after she had not shown up to collect her three sons from school and a family member went to check on her.
She was in the middle of divorce proceedings at the time, and lived separately from her husband Timothy Bliefnick.
Bliefnick, 39, was arrested on March 13 and charged with killing her and home invasion the next day, according to ABC.
He pleaded not guilty at Adams County Circuit Court on Friday, the day after he was indicted by a county grand jury.
Last week, old footage re-emerged of Bliefnick’s stint on the US game show Family Feud – recorded in winter 2019 and aired in spring 2020.
Bliefnick (second left) appeard on US game show Family Feud in spring 2020 (Picture: Family Feud)
Host Steve Harvey asked the dad to predict the most common answer to the question: ‘What’s the biggest mistake you made at your wedding?’
Bliefnick addressed his own wife, saying ‘honey I love you’ before he told Steve: ‘Said, “I do”?’
He quickly added: ‘Not my mistake, not my mistake. I love my wife. I’m going to get in trouble for that aren’t I?’ Harvey replied: ‘It’s going to be a lot of hell to pay at your house.’
Prosecutors labelled the tragedy ‘an act of domestic violence’, with assistant state’s attorney Josh Jones adding: ‘Every victim needs to be seen, heard and believed.’
Rebecca, a nurse, had filed a restraining order against her estranged husband and his dad before Bliefnick hit back with a restraining order of his own.
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His lawyer insists his client is innocent, telling Fox News Digital: ‘The state’s attorney’s office needs a narrative. It appears that domestic violence is that narrative.’
Bliefnick has not previously been arrested and the couple’s children have never been removed from the home.
Rebecca’s sister is currently fundraising for the funeral and childcare costs.
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The grieving relative wrote: ‘Despite the circumstances of her death, she is remembered for the life she cherished – a life of compassion, generosity, faith, and fierce love for her family.
‘She leaves behind three young children and an entire community who loved her more than anything.’
A pre-trail meeting (status conference) has been scheduled for April 12 and motion hearing has been set for April 20.
The case continues.
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Prosecutors labelled the tragedy ‘an act of domestic violence’.