On October 27, 2024, Caitlin Tracey, 36, the wife of former Duane Morris tax partner Adam P. Beckerink, was found dead in the stairwell of Beckerink’s apartment building in Chicago’s South Loop. Her severed foot was found nearby. One year later, he was arrested, with prosecutors accusing him of throwing his wife over the stairwell railing, where she fell 24 floors to her death. Beckerink was later removed from the Biglaw firm’s partnership, and in the interim, he’s spent time behind bars in Michigan on domestic violence-related charges that he abused Tracey. Earlier this week, Beckerink was extradited from Michigan to Chicago, Illinois, where he was formally charged with first-degree murder in his wife’s death.
The ex-Biglaw partner is in custody at the Cook County Jail as he awaits a detention hearing. The state argues that Beckerink poses a threat to the community. Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke offered the following statement on the charges against Beckerink:
“Domestic violence has reached a crisis point in our communities, with domestic violence-related homicides spiking to levels that shock the conscience. With these charges, we are sending a strong message: violent crimes rooted in domestic abuse will be aggressively prosecuted as we work to bring justice to families and protect survivors. This office will treat domestic violence cases with the urgency, seriousness and resolve they demand.”
Antoinette Ursitti, the Chicago Police Department’s Chief of Detectives, echoed Burke’s statement, saying, “For more than a year, our Area 3 detectives fought to bring justice in this case for Caitlin Tracey and her loved ones. The determination of our detectives to secure charges in this case underscores our commitment to all victims and families who have experienced domestic violence. We will always work to hold the offenders accountable in partnership with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.”
Beckerink’s next court date is set for Friday, January 16.
If you’re a victim of familial or domestic violence, reach out if you need help. If you are in immediate danger, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Assistance is available in English and Spanish.
Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke Announces Murder Charge Against Chicago Attorney in 2024 South Loop Condo Homicide [Cook County State’s Attorney]
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
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