15-Year-Old Girl Found Dead In Dumpster; Sex Offender Charged: Police

DEKALB, IL — The body of a 15-year-old girl was found in a dumpster near the DeKalb apartment of a 29-year-old sex offender who police say asphyxiated her with a pillow days earlier, according to authorities.

Timothy M. Doll, of the 500 block of College Avenue, faces a long list of charges in connection with the death of DeKalb teen Gracie A. Sasso-Cleveland, police said.

Sasso-Cleveland hadn’t been seen by her family for two days when she was reported missing Saturday night, according to authorities, who discovered her body Sunday in a trash receptacle adjacent to Doll’s home after phone records showed she had been in the area Thursday evening.

Doll is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated criminal sex abuse, concealing a homicide, aggravated domestic battery, two counts of obstructing justice, unlawful restraint and unlawful communication by a child sex offender, police said.

A registered sex offender on probation after an aggravated criminal sex abuse case from 2020, Doll had registered with DeKalb police as recently as April 14, according to authorities.

Doll was “in a dating relationship” with Sasso-Cleveland, police said. The two had argued Thursday and Doll had held the teenager down and suffocated her with a pillow until she lost consciousness and did not regain it, according to police, who said Doll put her body in the dumpster, removed her items from his apartment and threw her phone away.

“Through this tragedy, the DeKalb Police Department and the family of the victim would like to stress the importance for parents and guardians to know their children’s whereabouts, who they are with, and the nature of their activities,” police said.

“As a community, always call the police if you hear or see things that are suspicious in nature, especially if someone’s wellbeing is possibly at stake. Additionally, there is no need to wait a certain period of time to report a missing person.”

Resources for people in abusive relationships include DeKalb police, Safe Passage and Family Service Agency, according to authorities.

As of Monday, Doll was undergoing a medical procedure at a hospital before being admitted to jail, police said.