The body of 53-year-old Chicago Public Schools teacher Linda Brown, missing for over a week, was recovered from Lake Michigan on Monday, authorities said.
Police maintained a heavy presence near 31st Street Beach, closing several areas around 31st Street and Lake Shore Drive while the recovery took place. The Cook County Medical Examiner confirmed the remains were Brown’s.
Brown was last seen in the early hours of January 3 near the 4500 block of South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Bronzeville. She was reportedly traveling to Wicker Park for an appointment but never arrived. Brown’s 2021 blue Honda Civic, Illinois plate CX57470, was found on January 7.
Surveillance footage from a nearby Chicago Archdiocese building showed Brown parking her car, walking alone across the 35th Street bridge, but no footage captured her returning. Family and friends noted that she had been facing mental and other health challenges.
Former students remembered Brown as a positive influence who impacted countless lives. “She was always willing to help anybody, and she will forever be ingrained in the culture and the neighborhood of students,” said Rene Lopez.
The principal of Robert Healy Elementary, where Brown taught, shared a message with parents and staff offering grief support and counseling services, emphasizing the school’s commitment to helping the community heal during this difficult time.