by Chicago, Ill. – The body of 53-year-old Linda Brown, a special education teacher in Chicago, was recovered from Lake Michigan on Monday afternoon. According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, her death has been ruled a suicide by drowning following an autopsy.
Incident Overview
Brown, a teacher at Robert Healy Elementary School, was reported missing on January 3. Her husband, Antwon Brown, told authorities that the couple had a quiet movie night at home before she went to bed early, but she was gone the next morning.
“I woke up at 8:45 a.m., and she was gone,” Antwon said, describing the emotional toll of the situation. “I broke down.”
After hours with no word from his wife, Antwon reported her missing to the Chicago Police Department.
Last Known Whereabouts
Brown was last seen driving a blue 2021 Honda Civic in the 4500 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Bronzeville, about two miles southwest of Guaranteed Rate Field, en route to her weekly acupuncture appointment. She never arrived.
Her abandoned car was later discovered on January 7 near East 35th Street and South Lake Park Avenue, just two miles from her last known location. Surveillance footage captured Brown walking alone on a pedestrian bridge leading to the lakefront around 3 a.m. the day she was reported missing, according to her family.
Background and Mental Health
Antwon shared that Linda Brown had taken a leave of absence from her teaching job due to ongoing mental health struggles, including anxiety and panic attacks, and was scheduled to return to work on January 5.
“She has a little mental issues going on, and she took a leave of absence from her job to get help for that,” Antwon said. “As school was getting closer, it was kind of getting worse, like the anxiety, the panic attacks.”
Investigation
The circumstances of Brown’s death have been classified as a suicide, and no additional information has been released by authorities. The Chicago Police Department continues to provide support to the family as they cope with the loss.
Conclusion
Linda Brown, a dedicated special education teacher, tragically took her own life after struggling with mental health issues. Her sudden passing has left her family, colleagues, and students mourning.
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