Cause of Death for CPS Teacher Linda Brown, Who Mysteriously Vanished, Finally Revealed — Details

A Chicago Public Schools teacher was reported missing in early January. Authorities launched a search. Days later, the case took a significant turn.

The disappearance of Linda Brown, a Chicago Public Schools (CPS) teacher, raised concern among her loved ones. In the days that followed, they searched for answers and asked the public for help.

What unfolded in the following week, and what authorities later confirmed, would bring the case to a heartbreaking end.

When Linda Brown Was Last Seen

As reported by ABC 7 Chicago, Brown, 39, was a special education teacher with CPS. She went missing from her home in the Bronzeville neighborhood on Saturday, January 3, 2026.

Chicago police said she was last seen in the 4500 block of South Martin Luther King Drive, not far from where she lived. Her husband, Antwon Brown, said the couple had spent Friday night watching a movie at home.

The couple went to bed as usual. But something had changed by the next morning. "Everything was fine. Next morning I woke up, it was like 8:35 a.m., and she was gone. No sign of her," he told the news outlet.

At first, he believed she may have left for her usual Saturday acupuncture appointment. But when she didn't return or respond, her family grew concerned.

They retraced Linda's steps, called local hospitals, and shared missing-person flyers across Chicago and online. "We don't know where she is. We need to find her because I'm breaking down and I don't know what to do," Antwon said during the search.

Despite their efforts, nearly a week went by without answers. Then, authorities made a discovery that brought the search to a heartbreaking conclusion.

What Authorities Found One Week Later

Officials previously confirmed to People that Brown's body was pulled from Lake Michigan on the morning of Monday, Jan. 12, near the 3100 block of South Lake Shore Drive on Chicago's South Side.

Following an autopsy on Tuesday, the Cook County Coroner's Office ruled Brown's death a suicide by drowning. The medical examiner has not released additional details.

Linda's disappearance and death deeply affected her school and local community. As previously reported by NBC Chicago, the discovery of Linda's body in Lake Michigan sent shockwaves through a community that had been holding onto hope.

Loved ones described the moment as "extremely sad," struggling to process how quickly optimism turned into mourning. For many, the unanswered questions only deepened the pain.

What Surveillance Footage Revealed

Before the discovery, police had released a detailed timeline of Linda's final known movements. Investigators stressed that she had never gone missing before.

Fox 32 Chicago reported that the search zeroed in on the lakefront after her last confirmed sighting.

That location would later become central to the investigation. And then came the footage.

Police released surveillance video showing Linda near the lake shortly before she vanished. The visuals, provided by authorities, became one of the most haunting elements of the case.

The video offered clues, but no clear answers. What happened in the moments after remains unclear.

Additional coverage, including a YouTube news segment, showed search teams working tirelessly along the shoreline as concern grew by the hour.

City Mourns the Loss of a Teacher

As the news spread, tributes reportedly poured in from across the city. Students, colleagues, and neighbors shared memories of a teacher described as kind, dedicated, and deeply loved.

Even Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson publicly acknowledged the tragedy. In a somber statement shared on X, condolences were extended to those close to Linda.

"I'm praying for her family, and for her students as they grieve and remember Linda and all the joy she brought," the mayor wrote in his post.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.