DeKalb sex offender, 29, charged with murder in slaying of 15-year-old DeKalb High School girl

DeKalb High School friends of victim, Gracie Sasso-Cleveland, remember her at vigil: ‘She had a spark’

Timothy Doll, 29, of the 500 block of College Avenue, was charged May 8, 2023 with the murder of Gracie Sasso-Cleveland, a 15-year-old DeKalb High School girl who was found dead May 7, 2023 in DeKalb. (Inset photo provided by DeKalb Police Department); vigil photo by Megann Horstead)
Some of Gracie Sasso-Cleveland's friends gathered Monday, May 8, 2023 in the backyard of a home in the 500 block of College Avenue in DeKalb where the girl was allegedly murdered May 4, 2023. Timothy Doll, 29, is charged with murder in the death of Sasso-Cleveland, 15, of DeKalb.

“It’s hard to deal, hard to cope. It’s hard to realize your 15-year-old friend was murdered in a small town.”

—  Layla Jones, a DeKalb High School freshman and friend of slain 15-year-old peer Gracie Sasso-Cleveland
Some of Gracie Sasso-Cleveland's (shown in the picture) friends gathered Monday, May 8, 2023 in the backyard of a home in the 500 block of College Avenue in DeKalb where the girl was allegedly murdered May 4, 2023. Timothy Doll, 29, is charged with murder in the death of Sasso-Cleveland, 15, of DeKalb.
A home in the 500 block of College Avenue in DeKalb (shown here Monday, May 8, 2023) is the place where police say Timothy Doll, 29, allegedly murdered 15-year-old Gracie Sasso-Cleveland May 4, 2023. Doll is charged with two counts of first degree murder in the DeKalb High School freshman's death. Police allege Doll suffocated Sasso-Cleveland and then discarded her body in a nearby dumpster.  She was found dead by police Sunday, May 7, 2023.

Suspect had history of sexual abuse of minors