DeKALB – On Wednesday, Timothy Doll pleaded guilty to the 2023 murder of 15-year-old Gracie Sasso-Cleveland.

Sasso-Cleveland’s body was found inside a dumpster off College Avenue near Northern Illinois University’s campus. 

Doll was a registered sex offender with the DeKalb County Police Department prior to the murder of Sasso-Cleveland. At the time of the murder, he was on probation related to a separate criminal sexual assault case. 

It was alleged that Doll, now 31, was in an illegal relationship with DeKalb High School freshman Sasso-Cleveland. In an argument at Doll’s apartment on May 4, 2023, Doll smothered her to death before disposing of her body in a nearby dumpster in the 500 block of College Avenue, according to a press release from the DeKalb Police Department.

The DeKalb County Coroner’s Office ruled the cause of death as asphyxiation. 

Doll allegedly disposed of the victims phone at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital. The night of the murder, Doll admitted himself to the hospital for a suspected back injury, which he stated occurred during the moving of the girl’s body. Police made their initial contact with him while at the hospital that night. 

Sasso-Cleveland’s mother reported her missing May 6, 2023, and police found her body May 7, 2023. Doll was charged with the murder May 8, 2023.

Police found young women’s clothing that matched the description of Sasso-Cleveland’s the last time she was seen in Doll’s apartment.

Until recently, Doll maintained his innocence despite allegedly admitting to the crime and acknowledging he knew Sasso-Cleveland was 15 years old in discussion with police.

Trial with jury was originally expected to begin March 4, 2025. One month before the jury was set to convene, Doll pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of Sasso-Cleveland. Doll is currently being held in DeKalb County Jail while he awaits sentencing.

“Timothy Doll entered a guilty plea without an agreement as to the length of his sentence,” DeKalb County State’s Attorney Riley Oncken said via press release Wednesday.

Doll’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 30 at 1:30 p.m. where he faces 20 to 60 years in prison.