At a Glance
- Linda Brown, a Chicago special-education teacher, died by suicide through drowning, the Cook County coroner ruled Tuesday.
- She vanished on January 3; her body was recovered from Lake Michigan on January 12.
- Surveillance footage captured her walking toward the lakefront with no return.
Why it matters: The tragedy spotlights mental-health struggles among educators and the importance of accessible support systems.
Linda Brown, the 38-year-old special-education teacher whose disappearance gripped Chicago, died by suicide through drowning, authorities confirmed after an autopsy completed Tuesday.
Ethan R. Coleman reported exclusively for News Of Losangeles that the Cook County Coroner’s Office issued the ruling following the January 14 examination. No further medical details were released.
Discovery and Timeline
Brown’s body was found in Lake Michigan near the 3100 block of South Lake Shore Drive on January 12, five days after her car was located undamaged nearby.
Key events leading to the discovery:
- January 3: Last seen walking near 4500 South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive; security footage later showed her crossing a pedestrian bridge toward the lakefront.
- January 7: Her blue Honda Civic discovered unharmed at South Lake Park Avenue and East 35th Street.
- January 12: Body recovered from the lake.
Family statements expressed heartbreak. “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 told WFLD.
Personal Background
Brown taught at Robert Healy Elementary School in Bridgeport. She and husband Antwon Brown, married 11 years, watched a movie together on January 2 before going to bed, he told ABC affiliate WLS. When he awoke the next morning she had left; he assumed she had gone to her regular Saturday acupuncture session, but she never arrived.
Antwon said his wife had taken a leave of absence to address “a little mental issues.”
> “As school was getting closer, it was kind of getting worse, like the anxiety, the panic attacks,” he recalled.
She was scheduled to return to the classroom January 5.
Community Reaction
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson praised Brown’s impact.
> “As a special education teacher at Healy Elementary she made an immeasurable impact on countless young lives and was a vital member of the Bridgeport community,” Johnson said in a statement. “I’m praying for her family, and for her students as they grieve and remember Linda and all the joy she brought.”
Mental-Health Resources
The tragedy underscores the need for accessible mental-health support. Anyone in crisis can text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to reach a certified counselor.
Key Takeaways:
- Autopsy confirms suicide by drowning
- Brown’s family and students mourn her loss
- Mental-health resources highlighted for those in need
