A grim chapter closed in an Illinois courtroom as Timothy Doll, 32, was sentenced to 52 years in prison for the murder of 15-year-old Gracie Sasso-Cleveland—a crime that shocked the DeKalb community in 2023 and underscored a disturbing pattern in Doll’s past.
During his sentencing on Thursday, Doll stood before the court and offered a stark admission: “I deserve every year I am given.”
According to Law & Crime, Doll’s words came after he confessed to suffocating Gracie and disposing of her body in a dumpster, fully aware that he was engaged in a “highly inappropriate relationship” with the teenager. At the time of the killing, Doll was already a registered sex offender.
Gracie vanished on May 4, 2023. Her disappearance was reported two days later, and by May 7, her body had been discovered. Investigators quickly pieced together the events of that night.
According to Shaw Local, Doll and Gracie had argued, and he used a pillow to suffocate her. Afterward, he stripped her, placed her in a laundry basket, and discarded her remains in a nearby dumpster.
The DeKalb County Coroner’s Office confirmed the cause of death as homicide by asphyxiation.
Police tracked Gracie’s cell phone to Doll’s residence, secured search warrants, and arrested him the same day her body was found. He was charged with murder the following day.
Judge Philip Montgomery delivered a scathing rebuke during sentencing, telling Doll:
“You treated her no better than you would an ordinary sack of trash. But she was just not a sack of trash for you to throw away. She was a young woman with dreams and aspirations.”
The judge continued:
“You stole her innocence. And ultimately, you stole her life.”
While prosecutors pushed for the maximum 60-year sentence, Doll’s public defender argued for 30 years, citing his troubled upbringing and mental health struggles. Ultimately, Montgomery handed down a 52-year sentence, with credit for time already served.
Doll’s criminal history includes a 2020 conviction for aggravated sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl. He served 2½ years in prison, followed by 30 months of probation, and was ordered to register as a sex offender and avoid contact with minors.
Lead prosecutor Scott Schwertley emphasized the danger Doll posed:
“This defendant preys on young teenage girls, abusing them. And no law or court orders have ever stopped him.”
