Michigan judge grants parents of woman found dead in South Loop custody of her remains

A Michigan judge has ruled in favor of the parents who sought to block their daughter’s husband from retrieving her remains after she was found dead in his South Loop apartment building, citing his alleged history of abuse.

The body of Caitlin Tracey, 36, of New Buffalo, Michigan, was found — it was missing a foot — about 7:20 p.m. Oct. 27 in a stairwell outside her husband’s high-rise apartment in the 1200 block of South Prairie Avenue, according to court documents and Chicago police.

Police said Tracey had fallen 20 stories. An autopsy performed by the Cook County medical examiner's office was still "pending" as of Tuesday, according to the medical examiner's office.

Following her death, her parents, Andrew and Monica Tracey, went to court in Illinois and Michigan in an attempt to block her husband, Adam Beckerink, from retrieving her remains — citing his alleged history of abuse against her and the circumstances surrounding her death.

On Tuesday, Judge Brian Berger of Berrien County, Michigan, granted Tracey’s parents exclusive control of her remains and sole responsibility for her funeral arrangements.

According to the petition, the Traceys were “devastated by their daughter’s tragic and highly suspicious death” and would “not be psychologically or emotionally capable of participating in any services” organized by Beckerink.

Beckerink, a Chicago-based tax attorney, appeared in court Tuesday over Zoom and made a request to adjourn, which was denied.

“We are incredibly grateful for Judge Berger’s expedited decision,” the parents' Michigan attorney, Mitt Drew, wrote in a statement. “The ruling allows Caitlin's family not only to honor her life with the final services she deserves, but also to grieve appropriately, supporting them in their journey through this difficult time."

Last week, a Cook County judge issued a temporary restraining order requiring the medical examiner’s office to hold Tracey’s remains at least until a ruling in the Berrien County case.

That Cook County case will come before a judge again on Friday.

“Today’s ruling in Michigan is a critical step in the family’s efforts to protect and preserve Caitlin’s legacy,” Andrew Cunniff, the Traceys’ Chicago attorney, wrote.

Beckerink’s attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. He has not been charged with a crime in connection to her death.

Beckerink was a partner at Duane Morris LLP, but as of Tuesday was no longer associated with the firm, according to a spokesperson.

"This is a shocking and tragic case, and we send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Caitlin Tracey," the firm spokesperson wrote.

"Our firm was not aware of the domestic violence and other allegations against Adam Beckerink asserted in various legal proceedings until recent media accounts of her death. Once we confirmed key facts, the Partners Board swiftly removed Adam as a partner."

Death investigation continues

On Oct. 27, hours before Tracey’s death, Beckerink reported her missing to Chicago police.

He told officers he had just returned to Chicago two days earlier after spending time in Michigan, and had not seen Tracey in about a month, according to a police report.

Beckerink told officers he had communicated with Tracey and expected her to be at their Chicago home when he returned on Oct. 25, but she was not there, the police report states. Beckerink told officers she’d left her cellphone and belongings in the house.

On the night of Oct. 27, another resident found what they believed to be a severed foot in the stairwell of Beckerink’s building, according to police reports.

While officers were searching the area, a building manager found Tracey’s body at the bottom of the stairwell, the report states.

When police went to interview Beckerink, he said he'd returned to Chicago the night of Oct. 25 and hadn't heard from her since, police said. But detectives allegedly found video footage of Beckerink and Tracey, who appeared to suffer facial injuries, in the building on Oct. 24.

Detectives then placed Beckerink in custody for filing a false missing person report. While in custody, police said he asked the detectives, “Is she alive?” and “Is she ok?”

He was later released without charges.

Chicago detectives are continuing to conduct a death investigation in connection to the case.

Documented allegations of abuse

In October 2023, Tracey obtained an emergency protective order against Beckerink in Cook County.

In the petition for the order of protection, Tracey stated she had been in a dating relationship with Beckerink from October 2022 to around September 2023.

Near the end of that time, Tracey reported at least two incidents of alleged domestic violence to Chicago police.

On Sept. 20, 2023, Tracey was sleeping at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 160 E. Pearson St., when Beckerink entered the room and started yelling at her, according to a police report.

Beckerink allegedly struck Tracey and she screamed out for help. He then began to strangle her, the report alleges, and she said loudly, “You are going to murder me tonight."

When hotel security entered the room after receiving multiple reports of screaming, they saw Beckerink dragging Tracey around by her hair, the report states.

On Aug. 21, 2023, Tracey was at Berkerink’s home in South Loop when he put her in a choke hold, according to a police report. Tracey later attempted to flee the home but Beckerink grabbed her and strangled her to the point that she passed out, the report states.

Tracey regained consciousness two hours later and attempted to flee again. Another struggle ensued but Tracey eventually made it out of the unit and ran "as fast as she could" straight to the Central Chicago police station, according to a report.

Beckerink did not face charges in either incident in Chicago.

In November 2023, Tracey dropped her request for a protective order. According to the parent’s petition, Beckerink had “threatened to sue her for defamation and libel, if she proceeded.”

Felony charges in Michigan

In Tracey’s original petition for an order of protection, she also detailed an incident in July 2023, where Beckerink allegedly attacked her at her home in New Buffalo, Michigan, throwing a jar at her head and pouring vodka in her open wounds.

Beckerink currently has two active felony cases in Michigan, both involving domestic violence charges.

In January, he was charged with larceny of $20,000 or more, larceny in a building, interfering with an electronic communication causing injury and domestic violence.

He was also charged with resisting and obstructing a police officer, interfering with an electronic communication and domestic violence in the August incident, according to the Berrien County prosecutor's office.

Tracey was the victim in both cases and was likely under subpoena to testify against him, according to her parent's petition.