Two and a half weeks after a Quincy nurse and mother of three was found shot to death in her home, her estranged husband has been charged with murder.
Rebecca Bliefnick, 41, was found dead on Feb. 23 by a family member, after she didn’t pick up her children from school.
She was a Quincy native who worked at Blessing Hospital.
Timothy Bliefnick, 39, was arrested without incident on Monday morning and is charged with two counts of murder and one count of home invasion.
The former couple was reportedly going through a divorce.
“Our Quincy community should rest assured that this horrific crime was not a random act of violence,” said Josh Jones, lead trial attorney for the Adam’s County State’s Attorney office, at a press conference Monday. “However, it is equally important to recognize the event for what it is: an act of domestic violence.”
Jones said domestic violence takes many forms.
“Regardless of whether a victim suffers from emotional abuse, physical abuse, or what our community is confronting today, every victim of domestic violence must be treated with the urgency, the respect, and the compassion that he or she deserves,” Jones said.
Police searched Timothy Bliefnick’s home on March 1, then sent evidence to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab for processing.
He is being held in the Adams County jail without bond. Arraignment is scheduled for March 24.
Jones said the arrest is an important first step in securing justice for Rebecca Bliefnick and his office will continue to work with detectives as the investigation continues into a “heinous and premediated crime.”
Authorities said the Department of Children and Family Services is involved with making arrangements for the children.
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