The Becky Bnck Murder: Game Show Connection and 14 Gunshots in Quincy, Illinois
The murder of Becky Bnck on February 23, 2023, sent shockwaves through the quiet Mississippi River town of Quincy, Illinois. The 41-year-old nurse and mother of three was discovered by her father, lying on her bathroom floor after being shot 14 times. This brutal crime was unlike any previous homicide in the area, leaving investigators with a complex crime scene and a community gripped by fear.
Evidence suggests the killer broke into Becky's home through a window in one of her children's bedrooms, using a patio chair to climb up to the second floor. Security footage from neighboring homes captured a mysterious figure in the vicinity on multiple occasions before the murder, including an incident on Valentine's Day that had prompted Becky to express concerns about hearing voices in her backyard. The investigation quickly expanded beyond the crime scene as detectives gathered surveillance videos from throughout the neighborhood, piecing together the movements of a potential suspect.
Key Takeaways
Becky Bnck, a 41-year-old nurse and mother of three, was murdered in her Quincy home with 14 gunshots after an intruder broke in through an upstairs window.
Security cameras from neighboring properties captured suspicious activity near Becky's home on multiple occasions before the murder, suggesting possible stalking behavior.
The brutal nature of the crime left the typically peaceful Quincy community in fear while investigators gathered evidence including shell casings, partial shoe prints, and surveillance footage.
The Crime Scene Shock
Examining the scene of Becky Bletnick's murder revealed something entirely different from typical homicides in Quincy. Investigators immediately recognized the unusual nature of the crime upon discovering her body in the bathroom of her home. The evidence showed she had been shot 14 times, with one additional round missing its target—totaling 15 shots fired at the 41-year-old mother of three.
Becky's Final Terrifying Moments
The forensic evidence painted a disturbing picture of Becky's last minutes alive. None of her 14 gunshot wounds were immediately fatal, meaning she remained conscious and in pain for several minutes before succumbing to her injuries. She had attempted to call emergency services at precisely 1:01:10 a.m., dialing 91126 before the phone was knocked from her hand and later found behind the bathroom door.
The intruder had methodically planned their entry into Becky's home. They:
Moved a patio chair to access the upper level
Bypassed Becky's bedroom windows
Pried open a window in one of her sons' rooms
Forcefully broke through Becky's bedroom door
Pursued her to the bathroom where the shooting occurred
Evidence collected at the scene included:
A partial shoe print near the entry point
Eight spent 9mm shell casings
Small plastic fragments surrounding Becky's body
Community Fear and Investigation
The brutal murder sent shockwaves through Quincy, a normally peaceful riverside town where violent crimes rarely occur. Residents lived in fear, with many taking extra security precautions by locking doors and turning on exterior lights. The community struggled to comprehend how such a horrific crime could happen to a beloved nurse and mother of three young boys.
Surveillance footage from neighboring properties revealed concerning details. While no video captured the actual murder, cameras did record someone:
Walking down the neighbor's driveway toward Becky's house at 1:05 a.m. the night before the murder
Returning in the opposite direction 48 minutes later
Similar suspicious activity near her home on February 14th
Becky had previously told neighbors she thought she'd been hearing voices in her backyard and was feeling increasingly paranoid. Additional footage from around the neighborhood and the Quincy bus barn showed a person riding a bicycle in the direction of Becky's house.
Investigators quickly determined this was not a random act or burglary gone wrong. Nothing of value appeared to be stolen, and the methodical nature of the attack—breaking in, pursuing Becky to the bathroom, and firing 15 rounds—indicated this was a targeted execution by someone with deadly intent.
Investigative Beginnings
Initial Suspicions Around the Neighborhood
The murder of Becky Bliefnick sent shockwaves through the usually peaceful Quincy community. Residents became increasingly fearful as details emerged about the brutal nature of the killing. Local authorities responded by advising residents to take extra precautions - locking doors and activating exterior lighting.
Security footage became critical to the investigation. Surveillance cameras from Becky's next-door neighbors captured unusual activity approximately 24 hours before the murder. At 1:05 a.m., an unidentified person was recorded walking down the driveway toward the rear of Becky's home. The same individual appeared to return 48 minutes later, heading in the opposite direction.
This wasn't the first suspicious incident. Similar footage from February 14th showed someone prowling near the property. Becky had confided to her neighbor that she'd been hearing voices in her backyard and noticed her motion sensors activating. Investigators expanded their search, collecting additional video from surrounding homes and the Quincy bus depot that showed someone riding a bicycle toward Becky's residence.
Examining Family Connections
As with many homicide investigations, detectives considered Becky's estranged husband Tim Bliefnick. The couple was in the middle of divorce proceedings when the murder occurred. Tim had been the one to contact Becky's father when he couldn't reach her on February 23rd, leading to the discovery of her body.
Tim acknowledged his position as a potential suspect given his relationship status with the victim. "I had to kind of make an assumption that yeah, I probably was going to be a suspect," he stated when questioned about the investigation.
The case gained additional attention when viewers discovered Tim had previously appeared on the game show Family Feud. During the episode, he had jokingly answered that saying "I do" was a common wedding regret. Though this clip circulated widely after Becky's murder, investigators determined it had no relevance to the case.
Crime scene evidence provided important clues for detectives:
A partial shoe print near the point of entry
Eight spent 9mm shell casings
Small pieces of plastic scattered around the victim's body
Those close to Tim expressed disbelief at any potential involvement. "I wholeheartedly do not believe he had anything to do with the death of Becky," stated one supporter. Tim himself directly denied any involvement when questioned: "No, I did not murder Becky."
Media Attention and the Family Feud Clue
The murder of Becky Bliefnick quickly captured significant media attention in Quincy, Illinois. This small riverside community, typically peaceful, was shaken by the brutal crime that left residents fearful and locking their doors.
During the investigation, an unexpected detail emerged that drew even more attention to the case. Tim Bliefnick, Becky's estranged husband, had appeared on the game show Family Feud prior to her murder. His response to a particular question became the subject of widespread discussion.
When asked "What is the number one regret that people have from their wedding day?" Tim answered "I do." His response wasn't unique - it ranked as the second most popular answer on the game show's board. Tim later explained that the comment was meant to be humorous and contained no malicious intent.
The Family Feud clip circulated widely, bringing additional publicity to the case. However, investigators maintained that despite the media attention it generated, the game show comment had no connection to the murder investigation itself.
Local surveillance became a crucial focus as detectives assembled evidence. Footage from neighboring properties captured a shadowy figure walking near Becky's home approximately 24 hours before the murder. This same camera had recorded similar movement about a week earlier, on Valentine's Day.
When questioned about these earlier sightings, Becky had told her neighbor she thought she'd been hearing voices in her backyard. Her motion-activated lights had been triggering, leaving her feeling paranoid in the days before her death.
The community remained on edge as investigators continued piecing together the timeline of events. Detectives expanded their search radius, collecting additional video evidence from houses and the Quincy bus barn showing a person riding a bicycle in the direction of Becky's house.
Evidence Gathering Approach
Our investigative team implemented a comprehensive strategy to collect and analyze evidence related to the homicide. The case presented unique challenges, as it occurred in a private residence bathroom with 15 rounds fired—14 hitting the victim and one miss. This approach focused on methodically gathering all available information to understand what happened on February 23, 2023, in this quiet Mississippi River community.
Neighborhood Video Surveillance
The detectives systematically contacted all neighbors surrounding the victim's home to identify potential video evidence. This effort yielded critical findings:
Adjacent Property Footage: The neighbors immediately next door had installed a security camera following a previous car break-in. Their driveway camera, which activated upon detecting movement, captured suspicious activity approximately 24 hours before the murder.
Key Timeline Observations:
At 1:05 a.m. the day before the murder: An unidentifiable figure walked down the driveway toward the back of the victim's house
48 minutes later: The same individual appeared to return in the opposite direction
Similar movement was recorded on February 14th (Valentine's Day), approximately one week earlier
Additional Video Sources: Investigators expanded their search beyond immediate neighbors, locating supplementary footage from another residence and the Quincy bus barn. These videos revealed a person riding a bicycle in the direction of the victim's house.
The captured individual wore what appeared to be gloves, but facial features, hair, and other identifying characteristics remained indiscernible. This footage, while valuable, represented just one piece of the investigative puzzle.
Forensic Evidence at the Scene
The crime scene yielded several significant pieces of physical evidence that helped establish the sequence of events and might lead to the perpetrator:
Entry Point Analysis: The assailant gained access by prying open an upstairs window in one of the children's bedrooms. A patio chair had been repositioned to facilitate climbing up to the window.
Movement Reconstruction: Investigators could trace the intruder's path through the home, noting they bypassed the victim's bedroom windows before targeting a child's room for entry.
Terminal Location Evidence:
The bathroom door showed signs of violent forced entry
8 spent 9mm shell casings were recovered
Small plastic fragments were discovered on the floor around the victim's body
The victim's phone was found behind the door, showing an incomplete 911 call (91126) made at precisely 1:11:10 a.m.
Additional Physical Evidence: A partial shoe print was discovered near the entry point.
Notably, nothing appeared to have been stolen from the residence, and no neighbors reported hearing gunshots or witnessing suspicious activity during the estimated time of the murder.
Emotional Impact on Prosecutors
Prosecuting homicide cases is challenging work, but some cases leave deeper emotional scars than others. The murder of Becky Bliefnick stood out as particularly haunting for prosecutors Josh Jones and Laura, who have collectively handled hundreds of cases throughout their careers.
The brutality of the crime scene affected them profoundly. Walking into that bathroom and seeing the evidence of such violence—14 gunshot wounds—created an emotional burden that followed them beyond the investigation. These weren't just clinical details in a case file; they were the final moments of a young mother's life.
Both prosecutors found themselves mentally reconstructing Becky's final moments. The knowledge that none of her wounds were immediately fatal, that she lay dying alone for minutes in darkness and extreme pain, haunted them. This wasn't just professional empathy; it was a human response to witnessing the aftermath of such calculated cruelty.
The context of the crime amplified its emotional impact. Quincy, a peaceful riverside community, rarely sees violent crime of this magnitude. When such violence targets a nurse and mother of three young boys in her own home, it shakes the foundations of community safety.
The methodical nature of the attack suggested a level of planning that disturbed even seasoned legal professionals. Evidence indicated the perpetrator had climbed to an upstairs window, chosen a child's bedroom for entry, and deliberately sought out Becky. Her attempted 911 call—cut short at "91126" when the phone was knocked from her hand—represented her final desperate act.
For prosecutors, these cases become more than professional responsibilities. They become moral obligations to seek justice for victims who can no longer speak for themselves. The emotional weight of representing Becky's silenced voice—a dedicated nurse, mother, and community member—created a profound sense of duty that transcended routine legal work.
Becky Bnck: The Victim
A Mother, a Nurse, a Life Cut Short
Becky Bnck was just 41 years old when her life ended tragically on February 23, 2023. Her father discovered her body on the bathroom floor of her Quincy, Illinois home, where she had been shot 14 times. None of the wounds were immediately fatal, meaning she suffered for minutes before dying alone.
The murder shocked the quiet riverside community of Quincy, where violent crimes rarely occur. Residents lived in fear following the brutal killing, with many questioning how such violence could happen in their small town. Police advised citizens to lock doors and turn on exterior lights as concerns about prowlers spread throughout the neighborhood.
Becky was a dedicated nurse, but those who knew her best say she was truly meant to be a mother. Her three sons, aged 12, 10, and 5, were fortunately not home during the attack. The children were staying with their father, Tim Bnck, as the couple was in the process of divorcing.
Sarah Riley, Becky's older sister and only sibling, described the devastating moment she received the news while on vacation. She and her husband immediately faced the heartbreaking task of returning home to pack funeral clothes instead of vacation souvenirs. When asked to describe Becky, "selfless" was the word that captured her essence. She considered everyone in her life important and special, with her children being the absolute center of her world.
The investigation revealed that the killer had broken into Becky's home by prying open an upstairs window in one of her children's bedrooms. Police believe the assailant climbed onto a patio chair, bypassed Becky's bedroom windows, and entered through her son's room. The intruder then violently broke down Becky's bedroom door, causing her to flee to the bathroom where she was shot.
Evidence suggests the attack occurred around 1:11 AM, when Becky attempted to call 911. She managed to dial only part of the number before the phone was knocked from her hand. Investigators found several pieces of evidence at the scene, including a partial shoe print near the entry point, eight spent 9mm shell casings, and small plastic fragments around Becky's body.
Surveillance footage from neighbors revealed something disturbing: approximately 24 hours before the murder, a figure was captured walking down the driveway toward Becky's house at 1:05 AM, then walking in the opposite direction 48 minutes later. Similar activity had been recorded a week earlier on Valentine's Day, prompting Becky's neighbor to text her with concerns. Becky had responded that she thought she'd been hearing voices in her backyard and that her motion lights had been activating.
Additional video from around the neighborhood showed someone riding a bicycle in the direction of Becky's house. What initially appeared to be random prowling now took on a more sinister character. Investigators concluded this wasn't a random act but an execution—someone who entered the home with deadly purpose.
The Break-in and Subsequent Actions
Reconstructing the Intrusion
The perpetrator gained access to Becky's home through a carefully planned approach. Evidence indicates the intruder used a patio chair to climb up the side of the house, deliberately bypassing Becky's bedroom windows before targeting one of her sons' rooms. The window was forcibly pried open, creating an entry point around 1:11 AM on February 23, 2023.
Surveillance footage from neighboring properties proved crucial to understanding the intruder's patterns. Cameras captured a suspicious figure walking down the neighbor's driveway toward Becky's house approximately 24 hours before the murder. The same individual was recorded 48 minutes later walking in the opposite direction. A similar incident had been documented about a week earlier on February 14th.
Police discovered multiple pieces of evidence at the scene:
A partial shoe print near the entry point
Eight spent 9mm shell casings
Small plastic fragments scattered around Becky's body
The investigation revealed this wasn't a random home invasion. Nothing appeared to be stolen from the residence, and the violent nature of the attack—breaking down Becky's bedroom door and chasing her into the bathroom—suggested a targeted attack by someone with specific intent.
Becky's Final Attempt to Call for Help
In her final moments, Becky made a desperate attempt to call emergency services. At precisely 1:11:10, she dialed 9-1-1 on her cell phone but only managed to input "91126" before the phone was knocked from her hand. This crucial piece of evidence was later found behind the bathroom door.
The violence that followed was extreme. The assailant fired 15 shots, with 14 hitting Becky. None of the wounds proved immediately fatal, meaning she remained alive for several minutes after the attack, alone and in severe pain on her bathroom floor.
Neighbors reported they neither saw nor heard anything during the attack, despite the violence that occurred. Becky had previously expressed concerns to her neighbor about hearing voices in her backyard and mentioned feeling paranoid after being notified about a suspicious person on surveillance footage on February 14th.
Tim Bnnck: The Former Spouse's Perspective
Tim Bnnck, who was in the process of divorcing Becky at the time of her murder, found himself under scrutiny as authorities investigated the case. Living approximately a mile from Becky's residence, Tim had custody of their three sons—aged 12, 10, and 5—on the night of the tragedy. The boys were safely with him when the brutal attack occurred.
When Tim couldn't reach Becky on February 23rd, he contacted her father, who subsequently made the heartbreaking discovery at her home. "What happened to Becky should have never happened," Tim expressed, still struggling with the reality of the situation months later.
Whereabouts and Emotional Response
Tim acknowledged that being the estranged husband in a contentious divorce naturally made him a person of interest. "I had to kind of make an assumption that yeah, I probably was going to be a suspect," he stated matter-of-factly.
When directly questioned about his involvement, Tim was unequivocal: "No, I did not murder Becky. The idea of murdering someone, let alone the mother of my kids, is not any part of who I am."
His appearance on the game show Family Feud drew unexpected attention to the case when his humorous answer to a question about wedding regrets resurfaced. While the clip went viral, those close to the investigation maintained it had no relevance to the murder case.
Regarding the surveillance footage showing a figure walking near Becky's property, experts have been careful not to make definitive identifications. The video quality is too poor to conclusively identify the person, with one investigator stating, "You can't see a face, you can't see hair, you can't really see anything."
Those who support Tim point out that committing such a crime would have been illogical for him: "He had everything to lose if that's him and nothing to gain."
Exploring Supplementary Video Evidence
The investigation into Becky's murder required careful analysis of all available evidence. Detectives immediately began canvassing the neighborhood for any surveillance footage that might provide clues about the perpetrator who had entered her home, fired fifteen rounds, and left her to die alone on her bathroom floor.
Reviewing Neighboring Surveillance Recordings
The team's efforts quickly yielded important results when they discovered that Becky's next-door neighbors, the Hymans, had installed a security camera on their property. This camera, which faced their driveway running alongside Becky's house, had been set up following a car break-in more than a year earlier. The system was motion-activated, sending notifications to the Hymans' phones whenever movement was detected.
While the camera didn't capture anything on the night of the murder itself, it revealed something potentially significant approximately 24 hours before the crime. At 1:05 a.m., the footage showed a figure walking down the driveway toward the back of Becky's residence. Approximately 48 minutes later, at 1:53 a.m., what appeared to be the same person was recorded walking in the opposite direction.
The investigators discovered this wasn't an isolated incident. The camera had also documented a similar occurrence about a week earlier, on February 14th. After seeing this Valentine's Day recording, Mrs. Hyman had immediately texted Becky about the suspicious activity. Becky didn't respond until the following morning, revealing she hadn't seen anyone but had been hearing voices in her backyard and experiencing motion light activations. She mentioned feeling particularly paranoid during this period.
Further investigation uncovered additional video evidence from other locations:
Footage from another house in the neighborhood
Recordings from the Quincy bus barn
These videos showed a person riding a bicycle in the direction of Becky's residence after dark. In one piece of footage, the individual appeared to be wearing gloves, though their face and hair weren't visible. This made positive identification impossible from the video alone.
The video evidence represented just one piece of the complex puzzle surrounding Becky's murder. While some questioned whether the figure could be Tim Blick, Becky's estranged husband, investigators couldn't make a definitive identification based solely on the surveillance footage.
Unveiling the Mystery Prowler
A disturbing pattern emerged in the days leading up to Becky's murder. Surveillance footage from her neighbor's house captured unusual activity that initially seemed like routine prowling but later took on sinister significance.
At 1:05 a.m., approximately 24 hours before the murder, a figure was recorded walking down the neighboring driveway toward Becky's property. The same individual appeared to return 48 minutes later, walking in the opposite direction. This wasn't an isolated incident.
A similar occurrence had been documented on February 14th - Valentine's Day - about a week earlier. When the neighbor spotted this nighttime visitor, they immediately texted Becky to warn her. Becky's response the next morning was troubling; she mentioned hearing voices in her backyard and experiencing motion sensor lights activating unexpectedly. She had been feeling paranoid.
Key Surveillance Evidence:
Camera captured prowler 24 hours before murder
Similar incident recorded on February 14th
48-minute gap between arrival and departure
Camera activated by motion detection
What initially appeared to be neighborhood theft attempts took on a much darker context after the murder. Investigators quickly expanded their search, canvassing the entire neighborhood for additional video evidence. Their efforts yielded footage from another residence and the Quincy bus depot showing someone riding a bicycle toward Becky's house.
Despite the grainy quality of the footage, it became a crucial piece of evidence. The individual appears to be wearing gloves, but their face, hair, and other identifying features remain indiscernible. This mysterious figure became central to the investigation, with questions remaining about their identity and connection to the crime.
Law enforcement determined this wasn't a random prowler incident but rather what appeared to be a targeted execution. The methodical nature of the break-in, the violent pursuit of the victim into the bathroom, and the excessive number of shots fired all pointed to someone with deadly intent rather than a common thief.
Community-Wide Fear and Search for Justice
The murder of Becky Bliefnick sent shockwaves through Quincy, Illinois. This quiet Mississippi River town, where violent crimes rarely occur, found itself gripped by fear after her brutal killing. Residents began locking doors and turning on exterior lights, worried that a dangerous killer was loose in their community.
Law enforcement responded swiftly, conducting extensive neighborhood canvassing to collect evidence and surveillance footage. Detectives went door-to-door speaking with neighbors, hoping to find any video that might have captured the perpetrator.
A critical piece of evidence emerged from Becky's next-door neighbors, the Hymans. Their security camera, installed after a car break-in more than a year earlier, had recorded suspicious activity. Approximately 24 hours before the murder, at 1:05 a.m., the camera captured someone walking down the driveway toward Becky's house. The same individual appeared to be recorded 48 minutes later walking in the opposite direction.
The Hymans' camera had also recorded a similar incident about a week earlier on February 14th. When they texted Becky about the Valentine's Day sighting, she responded the next morning saying she thought she'd been hearing voices in her backyard and her motion lights had been activating.
Investigators discovered additional surveillance footage from another house and from the Quincy bus barn showing a person riding a bicycle in the direction of Becky's residence. This evidence suggested the killer may have conducted reconnaissance before the attack.
The community struggled to process the tragedy. Many wondered how such violence could occur in their small town, especially to a beloved nurse and mother of three young boys. The brutal nature of the crime—with Becky shot 14 times after being cornered in her bathroom—only deepened the community's horror and determination to find the perpetrator.
