Estate of Caitlin Tracey Files Petition to Exclude Husband from Inheritance and Protect Burial Location

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. – Following the sentencing of Adam Beckerink in Berrien County on domestic abuse charges stemming from a January 2024 incident involving his late wife, Caitlin Tracey, the Estate of Caitlin Tracey has filed a petition in Berrien County Probate Court to exclude Beckerink from any inheritance rights and to protect the privacy and sanctity of Ms. Tracey’s final resting place.

Filed by attorney Mowitt S. “Mitt” Drew III of Butzel Long, P.C., on behalf of Caitlin’s parents, Andrew and Monica Tracey, the petition seeks to invoke MCL 700.2803, Michigan’s “slayer statute.” This provision bars individuals who have feloniously and intentionally contributed to the death of another or who were convicted of committing abuse, neglect or exploitation of the decedent from profiting financially from that death, either through inheritance or estate administration.

While Beckerink has not been charged in Caitlin’s death, the petition cites his pattern of documented abuse, as outlined in recent court proceedings, as a basis for his exclusion from the estate. The filing also seeks to prohibit disclosure of Caitlin’s burial location to protect her memory and her family’s privacy.

“Our clients continue to endure unimaginable grief,” said attorney Mitt Drew of Butzel Long, P.C. “This petition is not only about the legal protections the law affords—it’s about ensuring that Caitlin is finally afforded peace and dignity, free from the shadow of the man who terrorized her. The family’s only goal is to protect their daughter’s legacy and prevent further harm.”

Beckerink was sentenced Monday to 93 days in jail and two years of probation for interfering with a telecommunication device (Caitlin’s cellphone), domestic violence and contempt of court, with a 9 p.m. curfew, substance restrictions, and psychological testing. The sentence follows his no-contest plea in connection with the Michigan abuse case, separate from the ongoing investigation into Caitlin’s death in Chicago.

The Cook County Medical Examiner previously ruled that Caitlin, 36, died from injuries consistent with a fall from height on October 27, 2024, but the manner of her death remains undetermined.

“The sentencing does not address Caitlin’s death,” added Drew, “but it underscores the pattern of violence and control she suffered. The petition filed on Monday is one step towards justice and closure for her family.”