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One year has passed since the tragic discovery of Caitlin Tracey’s lifeless body at the base of a Chicago high-rise stairwell, a case that has haunted her family and pulled at the heartstrings of many.
In a significant development, the ABC7 Chicago I-Team has uncovered that court documents now reveal Adam Beckerink, Caitlin’s husband and the sole suspect in her death, is facing charges for her murder. A Cook County judge has formally signed a warrant for his arrest following a filed complaint.
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Adding to the complexity of this case, just last week, Beckerink received a sentence for domestic violence charges against Caitlin in Michigan. He is currently serving this sentence in Berrien County jail.
The grim details of Caitlin’s demise are shocking. Her body was discovered following a 24-story fall from a South Loop high-rise where Beckerink resided. The scene was distressing, with Caitlin’s body severely damaged and her foot severed nearby.
Dr. Monica Tracey, Caitlin’s mother, has been vocal about the torment her daughter endured. In a heartfelt statement to a Michigan judge, she condemned Beckerink’s actions, describing him as a “monster.” “No matter how much we tried to save her, she was caught in a cycle of control,” Dr. Tracey lamented, highlighting not just the tragedy of Caitlin’s death, but also the painful erosion of her life.
As the investigation unfolds, Chicago police have declared that Beckerink was responsible for Caitlin’s death, accusing him of throwing her over the railing of the 24th-floor stairwell. This assertion forms part of the felony complaint filed in Cook County court, a document that the I-Team has thoroughly reviewed.
At his sentencing in Michigan, Beckerink, who was still wearing his wedding ring, told the court he missed and loved his wife.
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“I did lose my wife, and I’ve been unable to grieve for her. I miss my wife every day. I love her more than anything,” Beckerink said.
Grieving their daughter for a year, Monica Tracey and her husband, Andrew, described in detail the abuse and manipulation their daughter, Caitlin, said she faced when she applied for an order of protection against Beckerink.
“Strangling me, suffocating me, slamming my head against a cabinet, putting my head in a headlock, pulling me away from the door,” Dr. Tracey said. “We continue to be victimized as we learn more about the inconceivable Hell she was living in with this monster.”
She said, instead of visiting their daughter for dinner, she and her husband visit Caitlin’s grave.
Beckerink was led from the court in handcuffs last Monday. The judge ordered psychological, substance abuse and threat evaluations.
The estate of Caitlin Tracey filed a petition in Michigan probate court to exclude Beckerink from any inheritance and to protect the location of her burial site from being disclosed to him, citing a pattern of documented abuse.
The I-Team reached out to Beckerink’s Chicago-based attorney, but has not yet heard back.
If you need help or know someone in need of help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for confidential support 24/7/365. The number is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). You can also text the word “START” to 88788.
