In the wake of a tragic and complex case, the parents of Caitlin Tracey, a 36-year-old Michigan woman found dead in a South Loop apartment stairwell, are taking legal steps to prevent her husband from claiming her remains. Andrew and Monica Tracey were granted a temporary order by a Cook County judge, alleging in court documents that her husband, Adam Beckerink, had exhibited a pattern of abuse towards their daughter.

The legal maneuver to block Beckerink, a tax attorney, stems from horrific incidents detailed in the court filings. Among the allegations are instances of physical and verbal abuse that Caitlin Tracey had reported before her death. According to the Chicago Tribune, Caitlin had obtained an order of protection against Beckerink in the previous year after multiple domestic battery reports. The abuse narrative compounded with Berrien County domestic violence charges that are currently pending against Beckerink.

The Traceys are also seeking the right to control their daughter's funeral arrangements. They aim to hold a Catholic funeral and burial in Michigan, which starkly contrasts with Beckerink's alleged plans to cremate Caitlin's body and keep her ashes. These intentions were reportedly articulated in documents filed within both Cook and Berrien Counties.

An emergency hearing was set for Nov. 12 in the Michigan probate court case. This comes in conjunction with a temporary restraining order in Cook County that effectively prevents the release of Caitlin's remains to Beckerink until the court's ruling. The Chicago Sun-Times notes that detectives continue to conduct a death investigation and, while Beckerink had been detained and questioned, he has yet to be criminally charged in relation to Caitlin's death.