A woman’s body recovered Monday from Lake Michigan is that of a missing Chicago teacher, her family said in an update shortly after the discovery.
Police said the body was recovered just before noon in the 3100 block of South Lake Shore Drive.
Officials said the woman was pronounced dead at the scene and a death investigation was underway. An autopsy was set to be conducted.
The discovery came as authorities had been searching along the lakefront for 53-year-old Linda Brown, a Chicago Public Schools teacher who disappeared while traveling to an acupuncture appointment on Jan. 2.
Police updated a missing persons alert for Brown Monday afternoon saying she had been “located,” but did not provide a condition or any further details. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office said Brown was pronounced dead.
Brown’s vehicle was found last week near 35th Street and Lake Park along Chicago’s lakefront, her family said. An image released by police Friday showed Brown on Jan. 3 in the area of 3500 S. Lake Park Ave., the last time she was seen.
Search parties were conducted near where her vehicle was located and where the image was taken, relatives said.
According to a missing person flyer surrounding her disappearance, Brown has been missing since she left her home in the Bronzeville neighborhood and headed to the Wicker Park area for an acupuncture appointment. She never made it and hadn’t been heard from since.
“I am terrified,” Brown’s husband, Antwon Brown, said at the time.
Her husband said Linda Brown had her phone, purse and credit cards when she left for her appointment.
Relatives told NBC Chicago Brown was scheduled to return to her work as a teacher with Chicago Public Schools days after disappearance. She had previously been on a leave of absence.
The principal for Robert Healy Elementary School, Erin Kamradt, wrote in a letter to parents that the school was aware of Brown’s disappearance and asked anyone with information to contact CPD.
“I know that news like this can cause many emotions, questions, and concerns for our school community. Please know that we are partnering with the CPS Crisis Management Unit to support our students and staff members,” Kamradt wrote. “If you feel that your child would benefit from additional social-emotional support, please do not hesitate to let us know. Our own school-based mental health professionals will also be available as needed.”
Brown’s sister Lisa Quintana said her disappearance was “so not like her.”
Anyone with information on her disappearance is being asked to contact Area One SVU detectives at (312) 747-8380.
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