Becky Bliefnick, a dedicated nurse and mother of three, lived a life centered around caring for others. Tragically, her life was cut short in a horrific manner when she was shot 14 times.

Who could commit such a relentless act? The episode “Ghost Rider” of Dateline: Unforgettable, scheduled to air on November 13 at 8 p.m. on Oxygen, revisits this chilling murder.

What happened to Becky Bliefnick?

On February 23, 2023, Becky’s father discovered her lifeless body in the bathroom of her Quincy, Illinois home and immediately alerted the authorities.

Initially, the police suspected a burglary gone wrong, but the absence of stolen items and the brutal nature of the crime prompted them to reconsider.

“This wasn’t just a murder,” remarked Josh Jones, who was the assistant state’s attorney, to Dateline correspondent Dennis Murphy. “It was a calculated execution. Shooting someone 14 times goes beyond a moment of rage.”

Who was Becky Bliefnick?

In their investigation, detectives uncovered that Becky was raised near Quincy and was the valedictorian of her high school class. During her college years, she met Tim Bliefnick, a charming football player who would become her husband.

Becky began her professional career in pharmaceutical sales but was inspired to change to nursing. 

“It really was her calling,” said her sister Sarah Reilly. “She really provided comfort to people in their great time of need.” 

That included her and Tim’s three young sons. “Being a mother,” said Becky’s lifelong friend Shannon Zanger, “was her number one priority.”

Her marriage to Tim, a salesman, was happy for a while before strains began to show. Appearing on the game show Family Feud, Tim said that saying “I do” was the biggest mistake he made at his wedding.  

Tim filed for divorce in 2021 and moved out of the house. 

Investigators search for evidence

A broken window appeared to be the killer’s entry point. Police collected evidence including shell casings and small pieces of plastic that may have been used to silence the weapon. 

It was not much to go on. So, investigators focused on security cameras at homes and businesses near the crime scene. The strategy paid off.

On the night of the murder, a camera caught the image of a person on a bicycle—a ghost rider. “You see the person riding the bike,” said prosecutor Laura Keck, “and then turn in the direction of Becky’s house.”

The suspicious cyclist turned up in a video footage on Feb. 14, which raised a red flag. On that night, Becky’s neighbors’ security camera recorded the image of the prowler outside their house. 

Focus turns to Tim Bliefnick

Detectives learned that Becky had another man in her life at the time, Ted Johnson. He was with her on the nights of Feb. 14, 2023.

“There was no evidence that he was involved. There’s no evidence of motive,” said Jones. “So, we start looking at a different path.” 

Namely, Becky’s estranged husband. Tim said he was home with his kids on the night of the murder. 

Tim’s defense attorney, Casey Schack, asserted that after being separated two years “they both, by all accounts, were looking forward to putting the divorce behind them.”

But divorce records told a different story.  Becky was scheduled to be in court a week after she was murdered. Contentious issues included money and custody of the kids.

Accusations of poor parenting, verbal assaults, and harassment had flown back and forth between both spouses. Another issue was that Becky didn’t want Tim’s father, Ray, around her children alone. 

As they worked the case, investigators were hearing that the charming Tim was a different man at home. “He was very emotionally abusive to Becky,” said Sarah. “He was very, very controlling.”

Tim had filed for a protective order against Becky, and she followed with a suit of her own. Becky also filed a protective order against Ray, who she’d accused in court filings of inappropriate sexual behavior. All the orders were denied. 

“The law with regard to protective orders,” said Jones, “treats emotional and verbal abuse differently than physical abuse.”

Tim Bliefnick’s home searched

A search of Tim’s home turned up shell casings later found to match ones at the crime scene and shards of plastic matching evidence near Becky’s body. 

In addition, less than a block from the house, police found a bike. Like the one in the video, it had no reflectors.

Tim’s computer history revealed that at 1:10 a.m. on Feb. 14 he had searched for information about Becky’s new boyfriend, Ted Johnson. That was the same night Becky’s neighbors caught the prowler incident.

Tim Bliefnick arrested

On March 13, 2023, Tim was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. The trial began in May. 

Prosecutors presented all the evidence they assembled—surveillance video, the bike, and the suspicious internet searches that included how to make a silencer for a gun out of shopping bags.

Defense attorney Schnack argued that the evidence was only circumstantial. 

After four hours of deliberations, the jury returned with a guilty verdict. Tim was sentenced to life in prison.

Sarah has made an impassioned plea for new protections of victims of domestic violence.

Dateline: Unforgettable airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on Oxygen.