Panic and heartbreak have gripped Chicago after beloved special education teacher Linda Brown, 53, mysteriously disappeared on her way to an acupuncture session Saturday, leaving family, friends, and an entire school community in shock.
The seasoned CPS educator was last spotted in the 4500 block of South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, not far from her Bronzeville residence, around January 3, according to police reports.
Brown was supposed to head to Wicker Park for her usual Saturday acupuncture appointment but never arrived—instead, she seems to have vanished into thin air. Her husband, Antwon Brown, is beside himself with worry, telling NBC5, “I am terrified. I am just shaking. I need my wife home.”
The last night Antwon saw Linda, the couple had curled up together for a movie before going to sleep. Everything seemed normal, but by 8:35 a.m. Saturday, Linda had already left without a word. “No sign of her,” Antwon said, recalling how their normal weekend routine abruptly turned into a nightmare. When calls to Linda went unanswered and hours ticked by, concern escalated rapidly. “She hasn’t called me, because she normally would call me and tell me where she is going. She never did,” he shared, voice trembling.
Linda left with her purse, cell phone, and credit cards, which only deepens the mystery. Cops believe she may have been driving her trusty blue Honda Civic (Illinois plate CX57470), last reported near the 2200 block of West North Avenue, and note she might require medical attention.
Brown had just wrapped up a leave of absence and was slated to return to her post at Robert Healy Elementary School in Bridgeport on Monday. School principal Erin Kamradt fired off a letter to families, pleading for help and offering reassurances: “I know that news like this can cause many emotions, questions, and concerns for our school community… If your child needs extra support, please let us know. Our mental health team is on standby.”
Standing at 5 feet tall, weighing between 130 and 140 pounds, and described as having a fair complexion, Linda’s last known outfit included a long black puffy coat and shiny UGG-style boots. The Chicago Police Department urges anyone with information to reach out to Area One detectives immediately as the search intensifies for any clue about Linda Brown’s whereabouts. The clock is ticking, and Chicago is rallying to bring one of its own safely home.
