Former NFL player Sergio Brown was reported missing after his 73-year-old mother’s body was found close to a creek around her home in Chicago on Saturday. Per CNN, the Maywood Police Department said that Brown’s mother, Myrtle Brown, succumbed to injuries linked to bodily assault.
The department in a news release said Myrtle Brown’s body was found by authorities after family members informed police they had been unsuccessful at locating or contacting the deceased victim or her son.
Myrtle Brown’s cause of death was ultimately ruled as homicide by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, spokesperson Natalia Derevyanny said, adding that it was determined the victim succumbed to assault injuries.
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In the wake of Brown’s disappearance, his brother shared a post on Instagram asking for help in locating him. “My brother Sergio is still missing,” Nick Brown shared. “If anyone knows where he is I want him to know that I love you and please come home.”
Myrtle Brown’s neighbor, Carlos Cortez, also told WBBM that the deceased victim was an “outstanding woman, and I’m hoping she’s in the right place and she’s with God.” “I never would’ve expected this in a million years,” Cortez added.
The New England Patriots in 2010 signed Brown, 35, as an undrafted free agent after his college career at the University of Notre Dame, CNN reported. His seven-year stint in the NFL saw him playing for teams including the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Buffalo Bills.
“It’s a sad but hopeful time, and we will all get through this together,” Nick Brown wrote in the Instagram post. “Mom always told me, ‘tough times don’t last’ and our last conversation about tough times being temporary is my beacon of hope.
“Mom, thank you for being strong, caring, diligent, fancy, funny, and for saving my art. I won’t let you down.”
Nick Brown also urged people not to approach the property as the investigation is still ongoing. “If you have any information on Sergio’s whereabouts please send them to the Maywood Police Department,” he appealed.
On Tuesday, the Independent reported that Brown seemingly shared an odd post on Instagram addressing his mother’s alleged killing. In the video, Brown claimed he thought his mother was on vacation and accused law enforcement of kidnapping her. The video in question was shared on the Instagram Story of an account with the username “intplayerwithapassport.” Brown, however, has a verified Instagram account. It wasn’t established if Brown owns the account that shared the video.
Brown in the video initially calls out “fake news” before making rambling comments about the FBI. Besides claiming he thought his mother was away on vacation, Brown also alleged either the Maywood Police or the FBI “kidnapped” him twice.
Prior to Brown’s mother being reported missing, neighbors claim they realized he had started acting weirdly. In an interview with WBBM, Cortez said Brown’s family revealed the former NFL player “wasn’t himself the last few months.”
“He was out of his mind,” he added. Cortez also said a Ring doorbell video he handed over to authorities reportedly shows Brown setting his mother’s clothes on fire.
“They seen him taking out the trash, and they seen him have a bonfire where he burned all her clothes,” he said.
This story has been updated
