The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current, March 26, 2023, Image 4
4A Sunday, March 26, 2023 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com LOCA^NATION Two dead in Missouri flash flood Former ‘Family Feud’ contestant charged in estranged wife’s death Layton Hoyer via AP In this photo provided by Layton Hoyer, a red SUV is seen submerged in floodwater on Old Ritchey Road in Granby, Mo., early Friday, March 24. Hoyer rescued an elderly woman from the car. BY JIM SALTER AND JACKIE QUINN Associated Press GROVESPRING, Mo. - A car was swept away and two passengers drowned early Friday in Missouri dur ing torrential rains that were part of a severe weather sys tem roaring across parts of the Midwest and South. The accident happened just after midnight in a sparsely populated area of southwestern Missouri. Authorities said six young adults were in the vehicle that was swept away as the car tried to cross a bridge over a flooded creek in the town of Grovespring. Four of the six made it out of the water. The body of Devon Holt, 20, of Groves pring, was found at 3:30 a.m., and the body of Alexander Roman-Ranelli, 19, of Spring- field, was recovered about six hours later, Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Thomas Young said. The driver told authori ties that the rain made it dif ficult to see that water from a creek had covered the bridge, Young said. Meanwhile, the search continued in another south western Missouri county for a woman who was missing after flash flooding from a small river washed a car off the road. The Logan Rogers- ville Fire Protection District said the victim’s dog was found safe, but there was no sign of the woman. Two oth ers who were in the car were rescued. Crews planned to use boats and have search ers walking along the river bank. Some parts of southern Missouri saw nearly 3 inches of rain Thursday night and into Friday morning as severe weather hit other areas. A suspected tornado touched down early Friday in north Texas as a volatile storm system threatened to spawn tornadoes in several Southern states. WOOD ■ Continued from 1A grace, love, forgiveness and the value of hard work. Speaking directly to Wood, Payne said he for gave her and hoped that she finds peace. “A murderer is not who you were created to be,” Kramer’s grandson said. “That’s not your purpose nor the plan that He has for you.” Wood asserted self- defense in the trial, testify ing across two days about being abused by Kramer. Assistant District Attor ney Rachel Bennett played a video for the court show ing Kramer, head in hands and under a blanket, being berated by Wood. Bennett asked the judge to impose a life prison sen tence without the chance of parole. She described a “personal and up-close mur der” of an 82-year-old man brutally beaten while getting undressed. The prosecutor said Wood drove the wedge between Kramer and his family and then used it against him. Through the text mes sages and stories Wood told to friends and Kramer’s family, Bennett pointed to the consistent lying and slandering of Kramer. For weeks after Kramer’s death, Wood impersonated him and texted a friend that she was being beaten. “This was calculated,” Bennett said. “It was manip ulative. The defense of self- defense is quite honestly insulting in my opinion.” During the trial, Wood told the jury she possibly blacked out when ques tioned about Kramer’s fatal injuries. “It’s a real shame that someone can use domestic violence or try to use domes tic violence as a justification to get out of brutally beating an 82-year-old man to death in his bedroom, because it makes it a lot harder for real victims of domestic violence to be able to share their story,” Bennett said. Burton sentenced Wood to life in prison on malice murder with the chance of parole plus 10 consecutive years for concealing the death. Parole cannot be consid ered for 30 years. a Apartments FOR RENT RPC Partners 2 Bedim Apartments Gainesville, Oakwood & Flowery Branch $ 300 Move in Special Plus Deposit 770-654-2807 QUINCY, Ill. — A former contestant on the long-running television game show “Family Feud” has been charged with first-degree murder and home invasion in the slaying of his estranged wife in western Illinois. Timothy Bliefnick, 39, pleaded not guilty Friday after noon at his arraignment in Adams County Circuit Court in Quincy, according to court records. Bliefnick was indicted Thursday by a county grand jury, KHQA-TV reported. The body of Rebecca Bliefnick, 41, was found by a family member inside her Quincy home after she failed to pick up her children from school. She had been shot multiple times. Timothy Bliefnick was arrested March 13. His Quincy home was searched March 1. The couple was separated and going through divorce proceedings, the televi sion station reported from court records. A restraining order had been filed against Timothy Blief nick, who also filed one against his estranged wife. In 2020, Timothy Bliefnick and some of his family mem bers appeared on ABC’s “Family Feud,” KHQA reported. One of the questions asked by host Steve Harvey was, “What was the biggest mistake you made at your wedding?” Bliefnick answered “I do.” He told Harvey “not mine to say, not mine to say. I love my wife.” He also said, “I’m going to get in trouble for that, aren’t I?” Harvey responded, “It’s going to be a lot of hell to pay at your house. ” Associated Press Bliefnick NOW HIRING Off-Road Truck Drivers, Scraper Operators, and CDL Drivers/Heavy Equipment Operator Competitive pay, Great Benefits (401k, Health Ins., Vacation) Apply in Person 1364 Candler Rd. 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