A Deadly Descent: The Chicago Stairwell Murder That No One Saw Coming
A Chicago high-rise has become the backdrop for a story of love, fear, and fatal violence — one that ended with two deaths and countless questions. When 39-year-old Caitlin Tracey was discovered dead at the bottom of a 24-story stairwell,
the horror seemed unimaginable. Days later, her estranged husband, the man accused of her murder, was also found dead — closing one chapter of violence, but leaving behind a haunting legacy of coercion and missed warning signs.
The Discovery
On October 25, 2024, residents of a downtown Chicago condominium awoke to police swarming the building. Tracey’s body had been discovered in the stairwell, one day after Adam Beckerink, her estranged husband, reported her missing. The scene investigators found was gruesome — one of Tracey’s severed limbs had been located by a tenant, confirming suspicions that this was no accident.
Authorities allege that Beckerink threw Tracey from the 24th-floor landing during a confrontation, causing her fatal fall. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
A History Written in Violence
The shocking end to Caitlin Tracey’s life did not come without warning. Court records reveal a long trail of domestic violence complaints, restraining orders, and emotional abuse. Beckerink’s criminal record in Michigan included a no-contest plea to domestic assault against Tracey, earning him 93 days in jail and two years’ probation. He was also convicted of interfering with a 911 call, preventing her from seeking help during an earlier incident.
Tracey had sought an order of protection in 2023, detailing episodes of violence and control. But the order was later withdrawn — reportedly after Beckerink threatened legal retaliation. Friends and family say this was typical of his behavior: intimidation wrapped in manipulation, designed to isolate and dominate.
Her mother, Monica Tracey, would later describe her daughter’s suffering:
“Our daughter never stood a chance against this brute. She was beaten, bruised, and battered. He controlled her every move and even took away her phone when she tried to call for help.”
A Fight for Dignity After Death
In the days following Caitlin’s murder, a new battle emerged — this time over her remains. Her parents fought Beckerink in court for the right to bury their daughter. After two weeks of legal wrangling, a Michigan judge granted the Tracey family custody of her body, finally allowing them to lay her to rest.
But the story did not end there. Before his case could proceed to trial, Adam Beckerink was found dead, his own life claimed under still-unclear circumstances.
A System That Missed the Signs
The dual tragedy of Caitlin Tracey and Adam Beckerink has reignited urgent conversations about domestic violence, coercive control, and systemic failures in protecting victims. Despite criminal convictions, restraining orders, and clear patterns of abuse, the cycle continued — until it ended in death.
Advocates say that this case exemplifies the devastating cost of underestimating coercive control — the psychological and emotional domination that often precedes physical violence.
Conclusion
The deaths of Caitlin Tracey and Adam Beckerink stand as a grim warning about what can happen when red flags are ignored. For Caitlin’s family, justice came too late; for others in similar situations, her story is a call to act before it’s too late.
Domestic violence doesn’t always start with bruises — but too often, it ends in tragedy.