A man whose wife was discovered dead in their Chicago, Illinois, condo has been arrested on an out-of-state warrant for domestic violence charges.
Adam Beckerink, 46, was arrested by Cook County police on a warrant from Michigan, where he previously lived with his late wife, Caitlin Tracey, 36.
Tracey was discovered dead in October 2024 at the bottom of a stairwell in the Chicago building where the couple lived, but no cause of death was given.
However, court records obtained by WBBM, a local CBS affiliate, revealed a long history of domestic violence, allegedly perpetrated by Beckerink while the couple lived in Michigan.
Beckerink was not charged with his wife’s death after her body was discovered “pulverized” after a fall from 24 floors up, according to attorneys representing his wife’s family, and missing a foot, according to police reports obtained by local Fox affiliate WFLD.
The Michigan warrant, however, is related to Beckerink’s failure to appear in court on an aggravated assault charge.
According to WFLD, court documents from that case show that in January 2024, “Tracey had cuts on her lips and other red markings.” Tracey claimed in the report that her husband had “assaulted her and stolen some of her items.”
Police returned to the couple’s home in August 2024. Beckerink was supposed to appear in court in Michigan on Oct. 29, 2024, on the assault charge, but he was detained in Chicago days earlier for questioning about Tracey’s death.
The arrest warrant for failing to appear at the Oct. 29 aggravated assault hearing was dated Oct. 31, 2024.
Beckerink was arrested on Friday by Cook County police on a fugitive warrant out of Michigan.
Tracey died after only six months of marriage, but court records from their former home county in Michigan revealed a tumultuous history between the two spouses.
According to WBBM, Tracey filed an order of protection against Beckerink in October 2023, accusing him of four instances of domestic abuse. She finally withdrew her request after Beckerink threatened to sue her for defamation and libel.
According to WFLD, Beckerink is currently charged with six felonies and two misdemeanors in Berrien County, Michigan, including domestic violence and resisting arrest.
He is expected to be extradited to Michigan to face those charges and is currently being held in Cook County Jail on no bond.
