Chicago Public Schools Teacher Found Dead After Week-Long Search

A week-long search ended in heartbreak for a Chicago community when missing CPS teacher Linda Brown was found dead. Authorities confirmed her body was recovered from Lake Michigan, bringing closure to a case that gripped loved ones and neighbors.

Disappearance Sparks Immediate Search

Linda Brown, 39, a special education teacher, went missing from her Bronzeville home on Saturday, January 3, 2026. She was last seen near the 4500 block of South Martin Luther King Drive.

Her husband, Antwon Brown, recounted, “Everything was fine. Next morning I woke up around 8:35 a.m., and she was gone. No sign of her.” Initially, he assumed she had left for her usual Saturday acupuncture appointment.

As hours passed, concern grew. Family members retraced her steps, called hospitals, and shared missing-person flyers online and throughout the city. “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.

Discovery Brings Heartbreaking End

Nearly a week after her disappearance, officials located Brown’s body in Lake Michigan on the morning of Monday, January 12, near the 3100 block of South Lake Shore Drive.

The Cook County Coroner’s Office later ruled her death a suicide by drowning, though no further details were released. The news devastated her family, colleagues, and students who had been clinging to hope.

Surveillance Footage Offers Haunting Clues

Before her body was found, police had pieced together Linda’s final known movements. Investigators highlighted her last confirmed sighting near the lakefront.

Authorities released surveillance video showing Linda near the water shortly before she vanished. While the footage offered clues, it did not reveal what happened in the final moments.

Community Mourns the Beloved Teacher

Linda’s death sent shockwaves through the Bronzeville neighborhood and her school community. Students, colleagues, and neighbors remembered her as kind, dedicated, and deeply loved.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed his condolences on social media:
“I’m praying for her family, and for her students as they grieve and remember Linda and all the joy she brought.”

Her sudden passing leaves unanswered questions but also highlights the profound impact she had on her community.