SYCAMORE, IL – An Illinois man with a previous record of sex offenses has been sentenced to more than five decades behind bars after admitting to the killing of a 15-year-old girl last year.

Timothy Doll, 32, appeared before a DeKalb County judge on Thursday, expressing remorse and accepting full responsibility for the murder of Gracie Sasso-Cleveland. Doll, already a registered sex offender at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder after prosecutors detailed how he suffocated the teenager and disposed of her body in a dumpster in May 2023.

The case unfolded after Gracie was reported missing by her family on May 6, two days after she was last seen. Her remains were discovered the following day in a dumpster close to Doll’s residence. Investigators revealed that Doll and the teenager had an argument on the night of May 4, which escalated to Doll suffocating Gracie with a pillow. Authorities said he then removed her clothing and placed her body in a laundry basket before discarding it in the trash.

A subsequent autopsy by the DeKalb County Coroner’s Office determined that Gracie died from asphyxiation and ruled her death a homicide.

Detectives traced Gracie’s last known location using cellphone data, leading them to Doll’s apartment. After executing search warrants and gathering evidence, officers detained Doll on May 7, the same day Gracie’s body was found. Formal charges were filed against him the following day.

During sentencing, Judge Philip Montgomery criticized Doll’s actions, denouncing the manner in which the teenager’s body was treated. The judge underscored the severity of the crime, noting that Gracie was a young woman with both dreams and aspirations who deserved more respect and protection than she received.

Doll was handed a 52-year prison term, receiving credit for time already served. Prosecutors had sought the maximum sentence of 60 years, emphasizing the defendant’s history and the tragic loss suffered by the victim’s family. Doll’s defense had argued for a 30-year sentence, citing his difficult childhood and a history of mental health struggles.

Court records show that Doll had a prior conviction for aggravated sexual abuse in 2020 involving a 14-year-old girl. He served two and a half years in prison and was placed on probation for 30 months. As part of that sentence, Doll was ordered to register as a sex offender and comply with restrictions aimed at keeping him away from minors.

Prosecutors highlighted Doll’s pattern of targeting young teens and suggested that previous interventions failed to prevent further harm.

The case prompted renewed discussion in DeKalb County about monitoring high-risk offenders and enforcing restrictions imposed by the courts. Officials have not indicated whether further policy changes will be considered in the aftermath of the sentencing.

Doll will remain in state custody and is ineligible for parole under current Illinois law until nearing the end of his sentence.