Summary
Police have caught Sergio Brown, a former NFL player who had not been seen since his mother was found dead last month. He will likely be charged with first-degree murder in Illinois after being transferred from California, where he is currently living.
Sergio Brown is wanted for murder in the death of his mother, Myrtle Brown, who was 73 years old. The murder happened in the Chicago neighborhood of Maywood, Illinois. Police say the mother’s body was found in a creek on September 16.
A law enforcement source familiar with the case told CNN that Brown was caught on Tuesday in San Diego, California, after being removed from Mexico, where he had been staying.
According to authorities, the former athlete is currently awaiting extradition from San Diego to Maywood, where he will face the murder accusation.
CNN has been unable to determine whether Sergio Brown is represented by counsel.
Here’s what we know so far.
Near their house, Brown’s mother was discovered dead.
According to authorities, family were worried after being unable to reach or contact Sergio and Myrtle Brown on September 16.
Police claimed they recovered the mother’s corpse along a stream near Sergio and Myrtle’s house that day.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office declared Myrtle Brown’s death a murder after an assault.
Three days after Myrtle Brown’s death was discovered, authorities informed CNN that they were aware of at least one social media video circulating that purports to show Sergio Brown in a tropical area ranting about “fake news” and stating he thought his mother was on vacation. It’s unclear where or when the footage was shot. Police would not confirm to CNN that the individual in the video is Sergio Brown, but did say they were looking into the video’s veracity.
Myrtle Brown’s family issued a statement last week pushing officials to move through with the investigation and claiming that police have enough evidence to make an arrest.
According to the statement released by the family, “No family should have to bear the weight of uncertainty regarding the circumstances of the passing of their loved one.”
Since Sergio Brown vanished, his family has not heard from him and says they have not been able to get in touch with him.
Sergio Brown, who is now 35 years old, has been out of the professional football game for a number of years. Before joining the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2010, he had previously played college football for Notre Dame. After that, he spent seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) playing for the Buffalo Bills, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Indianapolis Colts, and the New England Patriots.
According to a source, Brown raised a commotion on his deportation flight.
A law enforcement source told CNN that Mexican police have known where Brown was since at least September 19, but they couldn’t deport him until Illinois police got a warrant for his arrest.
Brown did not have a smooth move to the US, though.
A source said that the former professional football player caused trouble on a transfer trip from Mexico City to Tijuana, which made the pilot threaten to take him off the plane.
Maywood police said Brown was apprehended by local and federal authorities in San Diego after he crossed the border from Mexico.
Brown is being detained by the San Diego Sheriff’s Department on a felony fugitive arrest warrant and is due in court on November 13.
Brown’s potential deportation from California to Illinois may need a hearing under US interstate extradition statutes if he does not waive extradition..
Myrtle Brown was described as being kind and extroverted.
Myrtle Brown’s family stated that their beloved matriarch’s death “forever altered the course of our lives.”
“Myrtle was a beautiful, loving, and inspiring soul who made everyone around her feel important.” “Our loss of Myrtle has left an indescribable void not only in our lives, but in our communities, with her contagious smile and personality,” the family said in a statement.
Her second son, Nick Brown, told CNN last month that his mother left him with some advice that has proven important since her passing.
“Mom always told me, ‘tough times don’t last’ and our last conversation about tough times being temporary is my beacon of hope,” Brown added.
“Thank you for being strong, caring, diligent, fancy, funny, and saving my art, Mom.” “I will not disappoint you,” he added.
The family expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and support as they seek justice for Myrtle Brown.
“Let us work together to turn this tragic loss into a force for positive change and justice,” the family urged in a statement.