Sergio Brown, a former NFL player, appeared in an Illinois court Wednesday for the first time as he faces first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of his 73-year-old mother, Myrtle Brown. Her body was found last month near her suburban Chicago home.
Brown was extradited from Southern California to Illinois earlier this month after being arrested at the Mexico-U.S. border when he attempted to reenter the country. Maywood police had formally charged him with first-degree murder and concealment of a dead body in Myrtle’s death.
Here is a review of how the case unfolded and the current situation.
Myrtle and Sergio Reported Missing
According to a press release from the Maywood Police Department, Myrtle and Sergio Brown were reported missing on September 16 by family members and law enforcement personnel. A search of their Maywood, Illinois, home resulted in Myrtle’s body being discovered in a creek near the home. An autopsy revealed that she had suffered multiple injuries due to an assault, and the Cook County medical examiner’s office declared her death a homicide.
Social media posts that appeared to be from Sergio surfaced shortly after his and his mother’s disappearance, including a video where he called reports about his mother’s death “fake news.” Another video on the same Instagram page showed him repeating the famous quote from the movie “Finding Nemo,” “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”
Sergio Arrested in California in Connection to Myrtle’s Death
On October 10, Sergio was apprehended in San Diego and subsequently consented to extradition back to Illinois on October 12. Following the news of Sergio’s arrest, Myrtle’s family released a statement to the media through an attorney expressing gratitude that he had been found and returned unharmed.
Sergio Appeared in Court
At his initial court appearance, a Cook County judge ruled that Sergio was a threat to others and a flight risk, so he will remain detained. A public defender was appointed to represent him and his next court date is set for November 22.
Who is Sergio Brown?
Sergio, who graduated from Proviso East High School in Maywood, played college football for Notre Dame before going on to the NFL. He spent six years in the league from 2010 to 2016, playing defensive back for the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills.
Sergio Brown’s situation is a tragic one, as his mother was a victim of a violent crime and he now faces serious charges. Regardless of the outcome of this case, it is important to remember that Myrtle Brown’s death was a tragedy and her family deserves our sympathy and support.
