Adam Beckerink, a Chicago tax attorney entangled in a case of domestic violence, was scheduled to appear in a Michigan court on Tuesday morning. The court hearing, set for 9 a.m. eastern time at the Berrien County Courthouse, comes after Beckerink's arrest in March, based on incidents at the New Buffalo home he shared with his now-deceased wife, Caitlin Tracey, Fox32 Chicago reported.
Despite the charges being unrelated directly to Tracey’s tragic death, the timing is poignant, as the body of Tracey was found in the South Loop condo building where Beckerink resides, just days before he was originally set to face trial last year. A resident discovered part of Tracey's severed foot leading to a search that ended with her body being found at the bottom of a stairwell after falling more than 20 floors—an incident reported by the Cook County Medical Examiner as death by multiple injuries due to a "fall from height," according to CBS News Chicago.
Following the discovery of Tracey's body in October 2024, Beckerink was not charged in connection with her death nor named as a suspect at the time. A contentious custody dispute over Tracey's remains ensued between her husband and her parents. A Michigan judge eventually granted the parents the right to take Tracey's body back to Michigan for funeral and burial purposes.
During the court hearing, prosecutors are expected to present police body camera video evidence in which Tracey described physical abuse by Beckerink, now serving as a substitute to her in-person testimony given her untimely death. The video is intended to bolster the case against Beckerink on the domestic battery charges connected to two separate incidents at Tracey's New Buffalo residence, discovered by police last year, CBS News Chicago reports.
As the case develops, resources for those affected by domestic violence remain available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers 24/7 support and can be reached at 1-800-799-7233. Additionally, Fox32 Chicago mentions that the City of Chicago provides resources for domestic violence, which can be accessed through their designated web page.
