DEKALB, IL – A 32-year-old Illinois man with a documented history of offenses against minors has been sentenced to more than five decades behind bars after admitting to the murder of a 15-year-old girl, whose body was discovered in a dumpster last spring.
Timothy Doll received a 52-year prison term Thursday after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Gracie Sasso-Cleveland. Doll, already a registered sex offender at the time of the killing, expressed remorse in court, acknowledging that he “deserves every year I am given.”
Authorities said Gracie was last seen by her family on May 4, 2023. She was reported missing two days later, sparking a search. Her body was recovered on May 7, 2023, after police traced her cellphone’s location data to Doll’s residence.
During the investigation, police uncovered evidence that led to Doll’s arrest. According to statements made in court, Doll and Gracie argued in his apartment on the night of May 4. He then suffocated her with a pillow, removed her clothing, placed her body in a laundry basket, and discarded it in a dumpster near his residence.
The DeKalb County Coroner determined Gracie died by asphyxiation and ruled her death a homicide. The brutality of the crime stunned the community and left her family and friends grieving an abrupt loss.
At the sentencing, Circuit Court Judge Philip Montgomery condemned Doll’s actions, stating the young victim was a person with “dreams and aspirations,” whose life was carelessly taken. Prosecutors requested the maximum 60-year sentence permissible under state law, arguing Doll posed an ongoing threat to young girls. The defense, citing Doll’s difficult upbringing and mental health challenges, had sought a 30-year term.
Doll’s criminal record includes a 2020 conviction for aggravated sexual abuse involving a 14-year-old girl, for which he served two and a half years in prison, followed by 30 months of probation. Court orders barred him from interacting with minors and mandated his registration as a sex offender. Despite these restrictions, Doll established what he described as a “highly inappropriate relationship” with Gracie before ultimately taking her life.
Investigators found that Doll’s previous convictions and restrictions failed to prevent him from continuing to prey on underage girls. Prosecutors emphasized that prior interventions did not deter Doll’s pattern of abuse, raising concerns about his risk to the community.
In delivering the sentence, the judge acknowledged the pain inflicted upon the victim’s family and highlighted the gravity of the offense. Doll’s apology in court stood in stark contrast to the severity of the crime, with the court noting the broader impact of Gracie’s death.
Doll will receive credit for time already served in custody. Under Illinois law, he is expected to be required to serve 100 percent of his sentence, meaning he will likely spend the remainder of his life in prison.