In a chilling development from Chicago, a man has been charged with the murder of his estranged wife, marking a grim milestone a year after her body was discovered in the stairwell of his condominium. This charge comes just a week after Adam Beckerink received a three-month jail sentence following a no-contest plea to domestic violence charges.

Beckerink’s legal troubles began to escalate last Monday in a Michigan courtroom. There, he faced charges related to two separate domestic violence incidents at Caitlin Tracey’s residence, as reported by WMAQ. In addition to his jail sentence, he was placed under probation for two years.

Following his sentencing, Chicago authorities swiftly issued an arrest warrant on Monday, formally accusing Beckerink of murdering Tracey on October 24, 2024. This tragic case began to unfold when Beckerink reported Tracey missing on October 26, 2024, according to CrimeOnline. The discovery of her severed foot by another tenant led to the subsequent finding of her body at the stairwell’s base. Despite being held for questioning for two days, Beckerink initially faced no charges.

Tracey had previously sought legal protection from Beckerink, filing for an order of protection a year before her death. She cited multiple instances of abuse in her petition but later withdrew it under pressure from Beckerink, who threatened legal action against her, as court documents reveal.

Tracey had filed for an order of protection against Beckerink a year before her death, citing several incidents in which she accused him of abuse. She withdrew the petition after Beckerink threatened to sue her, court records show.

Twice in 2024, Beckerink was arrested in New Buffalo, Michigan, on domestic violence charges.

Beckerink and Tracey’s parents argued over her remains for two weeks after her death before a Michigan judge gave the parents custody for a funeral and burial.

Beckerink was arrested in March on domestic violence charges filed in Berien County, Michigan, where Tracey lived before and during her marriage.

According to WLS, Beckerink was sentenced to 93 days for domestic violence and contempt of court and probation for interfering with a 911 call made by Tracey.

Tracey’s mother, Monica Tracey, flanked by her husband Andrew, addressed the court, telling the judge she and her husband were “witnesses to the physical and psychological bruises and scars our daughter endured from this defendant.:

“But in the end, the coercive control he had over her was too great for her. She was lost. We feared for our safety, the safety of our other daughter, our son-in-law and our young grandson,” she said.

“Our daughter never stood a chance against this brute. She was beaten, bruised and battered by this brute. And then he is the ultimate controlling coward and took away her cell phone when she tried to summon help.”

The Chicago criminal complaint alleges that Beckerink threw Tracey over the railing of the 24th floor of the stairwell of his condo building, WMAQ said. She fell all the way to the ground floor, severing her foot as she fell. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Further information was not immediately available.