> At a Glance
> – Linda Brown, 53, vanished on Jan. 3 after her car was found abandoned in Chicago
> – Security footage shows her walking toward the lakefront at 3 a.m., never returning
> – Family launches private search on Jan. 9 as police scour the shoreline
> – Why it matters: A beloved special-ed teacher with documented anxiety disappeared without a trace, prompting urgent public appeals
A Chicago family is pleading for answers after security footage revealed their missing loved one abandoned her car and walked toward Lake Michigan, never to be seen again.
The Disappearance
Linda Brown, a 53-year-old special education teacher, was last spotted on Saturday, Jan. 3, near the 4500 block of South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, according to Chicago police. Her blue Honda Civic was later discovered undamaged near South Lake Park Avenue and East 35th Street.
Video timestamped 3 a.m. that morning captures Brown crossing a pedestrian bridge toward the lakefront. The footage does not show her returning.
What the Family Knows
- Brown left home with her purse and credit cards.
- She never showed up for a scheduled acupuncture appointment that day.
- She was on leave from Robert Healy Elementary School in Bridgeport to address anxiety and panic attacks.
Antwon Brown, her husband of 11 years, told local outlets he last saw her around midnight Friday as Jan. 2 turned into Jan. 3.
> “She has a little mental issues going on, and she took a leave of absence from her job to get help for that. As school was getting closer, it was kind of getting worse, like the anxiety, the panic attacks.”
Search Efforts
Chicago detectives have concentrated their search along the lakefront, the family said. Meanwhile, relatives plan to launch their own search party on Friday, Jan. 9, and continue canvassing for additional surveillance footage.
Brown’s brother-in-law believes she may still be on foot somewhere in the area.
Description
| Height | Weight | Hair | Eyes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft | 130 lbs | Brown | Brown |
Key Takeaways
- Footage places Brown at the lakefront at 3 a.m.; no return is recorded
- Her car was found intact, ruling out an obvious crash
- Family members cite escalating anxiety tied to her upcoming return to work
- Police urge anyone with information to contact Area One Special Victims Unit at 312-747-8380 or 911
As temperatures drop, loved ones cling to hope that fresh eyes on the case will bring Linda Brown home.
