Sergio Brown: Police say a former NFL player has been taken into custody for the murder of his mother

CNN
—

Former NFL player Sergio Brown was arrested Tuesday after an arrest warrant was issued for first-degree murder in the death of his mother in Maywood, Illinois, police said in a statement.

Brown, 35, had been missing since last month when his body was found The mother, 73-year-old Myrtle Brown, has been found Near her home in the Chicago suburbs.

He was taken into custody in San Diego while returning to the United States from Mexico, and is awaiting extradition to Maywood to face murder charges, police said.

Mexican law enforcement officers have known Brown’s whereabouts since at least September 19, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told CNN, which first reported Brown’s arrest. The source said Mexican law enforcement deported him after authorities in Illinois obtained an arrest warrant related to his mother’s death.

San Diego Police Department inmate records indicate Brown was in the agency’s custody Wednesday morning and being held on a felony fugitive warrant.

The arrest of the former NFL player stems from a discovery His mother’s body was held on September 16 After her relatives told police they were unable to find her or contact her son, Maywood police said in a news release. Her body was found near a creek behind her home in Maywood, about 11 miles from Chicago, according to the department.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office determined she died from assault-related injuries, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide, according to spokeswoman Natalia Dereviani.

Brown played defensive back for Notre Dame before signing with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played seven seasons in the NFL as a member of the Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills.

A day after his mother was found dead, Sergio Brown’s brother took to social media to ask for help finding him.

“My brother Sergio is still missing,” Nick Brown he wrote on Instagram. “If anyone knows where he is, I want them to know that I love you and to please come home.”

“This is a sad but hopeful time, and together we will get through this,” Nick Brown wrote. “My mom always told me that hard times don’t last, and our recent conversation about hard times being temporary is a beacon of hope for me.

“Mom, thank you for being strong, caring, hardworking, wonderful, funny, and for saving my art. I will not let you down.

Maywood police said last month they were aware of at least one video circulating on social media that appeared to show Sergio Brown in a tropical location rambling about “fake news” and claiming he thought his mother was on vacation. It’s not clear where or when the video was taken, and police have not confirmed to CNN that the person in the video is Sergio Brown.

Last week, Myrtle Brown’s family issued a statement through attorney Christian Conway calling on authorities to move forward with the investigation into her death, saying there was enough evidence to arrest her.

“We implore law enforcement agencies, particularly the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, to work diligently and diligently in pursuing the truth and accountability for Myrtle Jean Simmons Brown. No family should bear the burden of uncertainty regarding the circumstances of their loved one’s death,” the family said. .

The family also said they have not had contact with Sergio Brown since his disappearance.

“We continue to pray for his safety and call for his immediate and safe return to the United States. Let’s work together to turn this tragic loss into a force for positive change and justice.

“Myrtle had a beautiful, loving, inspiring spirit who made everyone around her feel important. With her infectious smile and personality, our loss of Myrtle has left an indescribable void not only in our lives, but in our communities,” the family said.

Amid the search for Sergio Brown, neighbors paid tribute to Myrtle Brown CNN affiliate WBBM.

“Myrtle, she was a wonderful woman, and I hope she is in the right place and with God,” her next-door neighbor, Carlos Cortez, told WBBM. “I never in a million years would have expected this.”

Neighbors described Myrtle as an elegant dress designer, an outgoing person, and someone who loved to dance.

“Just a lovely lady. Very nice, outgoing. Always on the go,” neighbor Kevin Grayer told CNN affiliate CNN. WLS. “Just a happy person. Her personality was just great.”

“She doesn’t deserve it,” Grayer said. “She was too good a person to die like that. It’s sad.”