A Chicago lawyer is now in custody as he awaits trial on charges of murdering his wife.
A decision made on Friday by a judge concluded that Adam Beckerink poses a threat to public safety.
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Earlier this week, authorities transported Beckerink back to Chicago from Michigan, where he had been incarcerated for a separate domestic violence offense.
Prosecutors allege that Beckerink was responsible for the death of his 36-year-old wife, Caitlin Tracey, by pushing her down a 29-story stairwell at their South Loop condominium in October 2024.
The tragic incident resulted in Tracey suffering severe injuries, including the severing of her foot.
Beckerink faces serious legal consequences, charged with first-degree murder and an additional charge of strong probability of death.
New evidence presented by the state Friday includes DNA evidence that points to Beckerink alone touching the stairwell door from the outside. Tracey’s DNA was not found on that stairwell door.
Prosecutors laid out several instances of Beckerink providing inconsistent statements to detectives before and after Tracey’s body was discovered.
Prosecutors also said that a victim advocate out of Michigan testified before a grand jury that prior to Tracey’s death, Tracey had told the advocate that she was trying to get out of her marriage to Beckerink and that Beckerink had threatened to throw her over the stairs.
The state also says that neighbors could often hear the couple screaming in their condo unit.
The defense made many arguments that Tracey was a habitual drug abuser, and that the state has a lack of evidence that this was even a murder. The defense argued Tracey’s death was either an unfortunate accident or intentional suicide.
In a hand-written court note filed in the case, Beckerink asked for protective custody while he is in the Cook County Jail.
However, that will be determined by the sheriff’s office.
He is next due in court Feb. 3.
You can contact the Illinois domestic violence hotline at 1-877-863-6338 click here for more information.
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