‘I did what I thought I could in that moment’

QUINCY — A former cross-fit partner of Becky Bliefnick’s testified Becky sent her Facebook messages in March 2022 saying she was nervous about how her divorce from Tim Bliefnick was going to turn out.

Christine Mandel, who is from Quincy but now lives in California, worked with Becky Bliefnick at Q-Town CrossFit. Mandel was sobbing and trembling from the moment she took the stand.

Assistant State’s Attorney Laura Keck showed a series of Facebook messages on the projector screen between Becky and Mandel.

Mandel asked Becky in a message “Are you safe?”

Becky responded “I told you your jaw would drop…I feel safe right now, I’m super nervous for when this ends. If he doesn’t get his way he might literally lose his mind” then went on to describe two incidents where she said her coworkers who had been murdered by their spouses, although no details of those were provided in court.

Becky also said she had purchased a security system.

Another message from Becky to Mandel said “He wants EVERYTHING. Wants sole custody of the kids, wants all the money, all the assets, wants me to suffer”.

That was followed by “I’d rather let people believe what he tells him (sic) and stay alive for my kids. It sounds crazy to say that out loud, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he would go off the deep end.”

Becky sent another message saying she would never let Tim in her house.

Schnack asked Mandel about her relationship with Becky. She said they had Facebook Messenger conversations, but hadn’t had any substantive conversations since 2021, until the March 22 conversation where she said she was fearful of Tim. Keck then asked about Facebook messages that weren’t in evidence. Schnack objected and they went into chambers.

Schnack’s objection was overruled and Mandel said in other messages she and Becky discussed options to try and keep her safe. Schnack objected to the mention of a protection order and that was sustained.

Schnack asked Mandel numerous times if she asked anyone to help Becky. Mandel said she told her to go to the police in a Facebook message that isn’t in evidence. Mandel said one reason for not reaching out was being fearful for the children.

Schnack asked Mandel “Despite all of those options you did nothing, correct?”

Mandel replied “I did what I thought I could in that moment.”

Mandel was excused from the stand and as she left the courtroom, she wailed and burst into tears.