Chicago Attorney Arrested as Investigation Continues Into Suspicious Death of Wife Caitlin Tracey

Caitlin Tracey, 36, died from 'multiple injuries, fall from height,' according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office

The mysterious death of 36-year-old Caitlin Tracey in a luxury Chicago high-rise continues to raise serious questions as her husband, prominent Illinois attorney Adam Beckerink, has been arrested—though not yet in direct connection to her death. The Cook County Medical Examiner has now confirmed that Tracey died from “multiple injuries” caused by a “fall from height,” but has not officially determined whether her death was accidental, suicidal, or homicidal.

Tracey’s body was discovered in the stairwell of Beckerink’s upscale South Loop condominium on October 27, 2024. Her husband was later arrested on March 7, 2025, on a fugitive warrant from Michigan, related to an unrelated domestic violence case.

Her husband, attorney Adam Beckerink, was arrested months later on March 7, 2025, on a fugitive warrant out of Michigan

While Chicago police have not linked Beckerink's arrest directly to his wife's death, a disturbing picture has emerged through court records and testimony from Tracey’s family and neighbors. Her parents, retired real estate executive Andrew Tracey, 69, and college professor Dr. Monica Tracey, 65, allege that their daughter was subjected to a prolonged “campaign of abuse and terror” by Beckerink in the months leading to her death.

Tracey and Beckerink, who were married in a private ceremony on April 8, 2024, reportedly had a tumultuous relationship. Although they never lived together full-time, they maintained residences in both Chicago and New Buffalo, Michigan, where Tracey had moved to be closer to her family. In legal documents filed on November 6, 2024, her parents accused Beckerink of multiple acts of abuse, including throwing a glass pickle jar at her head and pouring vodka on her wounds. They also claimed he had manipulated and isolated her from her family.

Tracey's body was at the center of a dispute between her family against her husband

Supporting their allegations was a since-withdrawn petition Tracey filed in October 2023 in which she sought a restraining order against Beckerink. In it, she detailed three incidents of abuse, including a July 11, 2023, assault at her New Buffalo home, where she claimed Beckerink stripped her naked and physically attacked her.

Neighbors in Michigan have also come forward to describe Tracey’s final months. Joyce Lantz and Bunny Coyner, who lived near her in New Buffalo, recalled how fearful she was of Beckerink. Lantz shared that Tracey had once said, “I felt like he was going to kill me,” and noted that she had seen police at Tracey’s home on August 19—the same day Beckerink was arrested on multiple domestic violence charges, including interference with electronic communications and resisting arrest.

Tracey fell down 24 flights of stairs in Beckerink's high rise (pictured) on the 1200 block of Prairie Street in South Loop, severing her foot during the descent

Coyner remembered Tracey as a kind and capable woman who once offered to help with DIY work and gave her a tour of her meticulously designed lakefront home. Both women recalled that Tracey had taken a temporary restraining order against her ex and warned them to watch for his car on their street.

Text messages shared by the neighbors revealed Tracey's growing determination to start over. On August 29, she sent a message saying, “Thank you for being fabulous neighbors... now it’s time for me to rebuild and move forward with a calmer and healthier life and future relationships.”

Caitlin Tracey's father, retired real estate developer Andrew Tracey (second left), 69, holding hands with his wife and her mother, college professor Dr Monica Tracey, 65

Despite her hopeful tone, Tracey’s life was cut short just two months later. Her parents ultimately won legal custody of her body after a heated court dispute with Beckerink, who had sought to block her funeral proceedings. A Cook County judge rejected his emergency motion, allowing the family to lay her to rest on November 23 with a Catholic burial.

Beckerink, a former partner at the prestigious law firm Duane Morris, has denied all allegations of abuse. His attorney, Todd Pugh, stated that there was “no physical violence” and described Tracey as emotionally volatile, asserting she had a close relationship with Beckerink and his family. Police released him without charges after initially arresting him for disorderly conduct and making a false report on October 28, 2024—just one day after Tracey’s death.

Adam P Beckerink

Beckerink’s mugshot, obtained through a public records request, shows him disheveled with stubble and unkempt hair. As of now, no criminal charges have been filed in connection to Tracey’s death, and the investigation remains open.

Caitlin Tracey was remembered by friends and neighbors as a vibrant, intelligent woman who loved dancing, travel, fine wine, fashion, and hosting dinner parties. Her tragic death and the unanswered questions surrounding it have sparked ongoing concern and calls for a thorough investigation.