Cause of Death Revealed for Missing Special Education Teacher Later Found in Lake Michigan

Linda Brown taught at Robert Healy Elementary School and was last seen on Jan. 3

Linda Brown, who was found dead in Lake Michigan on Jan. 12.Credit : Chicago Police Department

NEED TO KNOW

Officials have revealed the cause and manner of death for Linda Brown, a special education teacher who was found dead in Lake Michigan on Jan. 12
She was last seen on Jan. 3
“This is not the outcome we were hoping or praying for, but we are grateful that she has been found and can now be brought home to our family,” loved ones said in a statement after her body was found

The cause and manner of death for the special education teacher found dead in Lake Michigan has been revealed.

Following an autopsy on Tuesday, the Cook County Coroner’s Office ruled Linda Brown’s death a suicide by drowning, PEOPLE can confirm. No additional information has been made public by the medical examiner at this time.

Officials previously confirmed to PEOPLE that Brown’s body was pulled from Lake Michigan on the morning of Monday, Jan. 12, near the 3100 block of South Lake Shore Drive on Chicago’s South Side.

“This is not the outcome we were hoping or praying for, but we are grateful that she has been found and can now be brought home to our family,” Brown’s family said in a statement to Fox affiliate WFLD.

Brown last seen on Saturday, Jan. 3 in the area of the 4500 block of South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Chicago, police previously said.

Antwon Brown, Linda’s husband, told ABC affiliate WLS that he and his wife watched a movie together in their Bronzeville home the previous evening before going to bed. By the time he got up in the morning, she was gone.

“I thought she went to acupuncture because she goes to acupuncture on Saturdays,” he added. However, she never arrived at the appointment.

According to her family, subsequent footage from Jan. 3 showed her walking over a pedestrian bridge that led to a lakefront, but did not show her returning.

Antown said Linda, his wife of 11 years, taught at Robert Healy Elementary School in Bridgeport, according to CBS affiliate WBBM. He claimed she was set to return to work on Monday, Jan. 5 after taking a leave of absence.

“She has a little mental issues going on, and she took a leave of absence from her job to get help for that,” Antwon said during the interview. “As school was getting closer, it was kind of getting worse, like the anxiety, the panic attacks.”

On Jan. 7, Antwon told local outlets that Linda’s car — described by police as a blue Honda Civic — had been found undamaged. Family reportedly said the car was found near South Lake Park Avenue and East 35th Street.

Five days later, her body was discovered in Lake Michigan.

In a statement, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said he was “deeply saddened by the news” of the teacher’s death.

“As a special education teacher at Healy Elementary she made an immeasurable impact on countless young lives and was a vital member of the Bridgeport community,” Johnson said. “I’m praying for her family, and for her students as they grieve and remember Linda and all the joy she brought.”

The tragic discovery of 53-year-old Chicago Public Schools (CPS) special education teacher Linda Brown in Lake Michigan on January 12, 2026, brought a heartbreaking end to a week-long search that had gripped the city. Brown, a beloved educator at Robert Healy Elementary School in the Bridgeport neighborhood, was reported missing on January 3 after she failed to return home or attend a scheduled acupuncture appointment. Her body was recovered from the water near the 3100 block of South DuSable Lake Shore Drive (around 31st Street Harbor) on Chicago’s South Side, just before noon.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy the following day, January 13, ruling the cause of death as drowning and the manner as suicide. Authorities, including Chicago police and the medical examiner, have repeatedly stated there is no evidence of foul play. Surveillance footage from the early morning hours of January 3 showed Brown parking her car near 35th Street and Lake Park Avenue, exiting alone, walking toward a pedestrian bridge leading to the lakefront, and not returning. She appeared to be by herself, with no signs of struggle or third-party involvement captured on video.

Here are somber images of Lake Michigan’s Chicago shoreline in winter—cold, vast waters under gray skies, evoking the quiet tragedy of a life lost to the lake:

These visuals capture the serene yet unforgiving expanse where Brown’s body was found, a stark reminder of the lake’s role in many Chicago-area incidents.

A Dedicated Teacher’s Final Days

Linda Kathleen Brown was described by colleagues, family, and students as an “incredible, amazing human” whose “true passion” was teaching. As a special education teacher, she made an immeasurable impact on young lives, often going above and beyond to support her students. Relatives noted she had been dealing with significant mental health challenges, including severe anxiety that led her to take leave from work. Friends and family spoke of her warmth, dedication, and the light she brought to those around her.

Brown was last seen alive around 3 a.m. on January 3 in the Bronzeville neighborhood near the 4500 block of South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Her husband told media outlets he last saw her the night before when they watched a movie together before bed. When he woke up, she was gone—her car missing, phone unreachable. The vehicle was later located abandoned near the lakefront, prompting a widespread search involving Chicago police, the marine unit, and community volunteers.

Family members expressed profound grief upon the discovery, confirming the news on social media and pleading for privacy as they mourned. A vigil and tributes highlighted her legacy as a wife, educator, and community pillar. The Chicago Teachers Union issued statements of condolence, noting the nightmare her loved ones endured during the search.

Here are touching tributes and memorial images shared in the wake of the discovery—candles, flowers, and heartfelt messages honoring a life dedicated to education and kindness:

These scenes reflect the outpouring of love from students, colleagues, and the broader Chicago community, many wearing blue in solidarity with CPS staff.

The Anonymous Call and Lingering Questions

Despite the official ruling of suicide with no foul play suspected, online discussions and social media posts have highlighted an anonymous call reportedly made approximately one hour after the body’s discovery. According to circulating claims in forums and comments on news stories, the caller allegedly suggested a “final development” in Brown’s timeline “didn’t quite fit”—questioning inconsistencies in the surveillance sequence, her mental state, or other details.

No mainstream media outlet or official police statement has confirmed the existence or content of such a call. Chicago police have emphasized the ongoing investigation but reiterated that evidence—including video, witness accounts, and autopsy findings—points conclusively to suicide. Toxicology results remain pending, but initial reports show no trauma or indicators of external involvement.

The speculation has fueled debates online, with some pointing to Brown’s history of anxiety and the timing of her walk to the lake in the predawn hours. Others have criticized early rumors that vilified her husband (the first suspect in many missing persons cases), noting the video evidence exonerated him and highlighted racial biases in public perception.

Here are symbolic representations of anonymous tips and investigative puzzles—shadowy phone silhouettes, timeline clocks with gaps, and question marks over evidence files—illustrating the doubts that persist despite official conclusions:

These visuals evoke the tension between facts and unanswered whispers that often surround high-profile cases.

A Community Mourns and Reflects

The case has prompted renewed conversations about mental health support in Chicago’s education system. Brown’s colleagues described her as someone who poured everything into her students, often at personal cost. Resources like the city’s 211 mental health line have been shared widely in tributes, urging anyone struggling to seek help.

As Chicago processes this loss, the story of Linda Brown stands as a poignant reminder of the silent battles many face. Authorities maintain the evidence is clear: no foul play, a heartbreaking but self-inflicted end. Yet, in the digital age, anonymous voices continue to question timelines and details, keeping the conversation alive even as the family seeks closure.

Rest in peace, Linda Brown. Your impact as a teacher and human endures far beyond the waters of Lake Michigan.