The search for a missing Illinois special education teacher has ended in tragedy after her body was recovered from the waters of Lake Michigan.
A community mourns a dedicated educator
Linda Brown, a 53-year-old teacher at Robert Healy Elementary School in Chicago, was reported missing on 2 January after failing to attend a scheduled appointment. Her body was pulled from the 31st Street Harbor on the city's South Side on Monday, following an intensive 10-day search operation involving Chicago Police marine units.
Brown had spent the evening of 1 January at home with her husband, Antwon, watching a film before retiring to bed early. The following day, she was last seen driving in the 4500 block of South King Drive in the Bronzeville area. Surveillance footage later revealed the teacher parking her blue 2021 Honda Civic and walking across a bridge towards the lake at 3am on the morning she disappeared.
The desperate search and tragic discovery
Her vehicle was found abandoned near East 35th Street and South Lake Park Avenue, close to where her body was eventually discovered. Her husband, Antwon, initially thought she had gone to an acupuncture session, as she had taken her purse and cards. Alarm grew when she missed the appointment and stopped responding to messages.
"I'm broke down. I don't know what to do," Antwon told Fox 32 during the search. "I've done everything. I'm talking to people. We've got people searching for her. I'm out of options." The family formally reported her missing, sparking a widespread search effort.
In a heartfelt statement, Brown's family expressed their grief: "This is not the outcome we were hoping or praying for, but we are grateful that she has been found and can now be brought home to our family." They extended gratitude for the public support and requested privacy to grieve.
Remembering a life of service
Colleagues and loved ones remembered Brown as a positive and dedicated professional who made a significant impact. Mayor Brandon Johnson said she "made an immeasurable impact on countless young lives" and was a vital member of the Bridgeport community.
Her sister, Lisa Quintana, told WGN-TV that Brown had "never missed a day of work" and was always in contact with her husband, making her disappearance profoundly out of character. "That was her main thing, helping kids. She loved it," Quintana said.
It was revealed that Brown had been on a leave of absence from her teaching role and was scheduled to return to work on 6 January. She had been facing mental health challenges and was receiving support prior to her disappearance.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office has not yet determined a cause of death. The Chicago Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.
Brown's niece, Jen River, shared the family's devastation, stating that Antwon is "beside himself" after losing "the love of his life." The community now mourns the loss of a cherished educator whose commitment to her students defined her life.
