Manner of death for woman found dead at bottom of South Loop high-rise stairwell is ‘undertermined,’ medical examiner says

The Mysterious Death of Caitlin Tracey in South Loop Condo Building

The tragic case of Caitlin Tracey, a 36-year-old woman found dead at the bottom of a stairwell in a South Loop condo building, continues to baffle investigators. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed that Tracey died from injuries sustained from a “fall from height,” but the manner of death remains undetermined. The possible manners of death include accident, suicide, homicide, and natural causes.

Tracey’s body was discovered in an interior stairwell at 1201 South Prairie on October 27 around 7:25 p.m. Although she resided in New Buffalo, Michigan, at the time of her death, Tracey had been staying at her husband Adam Beckerink’s South Loop condo. Beckerink reported his wife missing on October 26, the day before her body was found.

During the investigation, Beckerink informed authorities that he had not seen Tracey in about a month. However, video footage showed the couple together just two days prior to her death, according to the Sun-Times.

Before her untimely passing, Tracey was set to testify in a Michigan trial where Beckerink faced felony charges related to domestic violence. The family spokesperson revealed that Tracey had accused Beckerink of interfering with her attempts to call 911 and resisting arrest in a previous incident. Another domestic violence case filed in 2024 was also pending in Michigan.

Despite the allegations against Beckerink, he has not been implicated in Tracey’s death. Additionally, he has no criminal record in Cook County. Tracey had previously filed for a protective order in 2023, citing Beckerink’s incessant harassment and physical abuse.

She detailed multiple instances of abuse, including an incident at a hotel where Beckerink allegedly assaulted her while she was sleeping. Tracey also claimed that Beckerink had physically attacked her at their South Loop residence and in their Michigan home, where he reportedly struck her in the head with a pickle jar.

Following Tracey’s death, a legal battle ensued to determine control of her remains, with the family ultimately gaining custody in November.

The circumstances surrounding Caitlin Tracey’s death remain shrouded in mystery, leaving her loved ones and authorities searching for answers in this tragic and complex case.