Homicide investigation underway after mother of former NFL player found dead in creek

MAYWOOD, Ill. — West suburban police are investigating the death of a woman — who is the mother of a former NFL player — as a homicide, according to the Maywood Police Department.

Maywood police said they were informed Saturday by family members that they could not find or make contact with 73-year-old Myrtle Brown or 35-year-old Sergio Brown.

After launching a missing persons search for the two men, police said Myrtle Brown was found unresponsive in a creek near the rear of her residence and was later taken to the Cook County medical examiner’s office .

Family members said Myrtle just celebrated her 73rd birthday on September 8.

Sheila Simmons, Myrtle Simmons-Brown’s sister, told WGN TV News that she last spoke to Myrtle on Thursday, September 14.

According to Simmons, early Saturday morning around 3 a.m., she received a phone call informing her that Myrtle and her nephew Sergio were missing. Simmons said she then went to her sister and nephew’s house in Maywood and noticed things around the house were out of the ordinary.

Simmons said she searched the creek behind the house with police and initially found nothing, but later that day she and other family members went back to search and discovered the Myrtle’s body in the stream.

“We’re going to find out what happened because it’s not normal that my sister isn’t answering her phone, not responding to text messages. People have been contacting her since Friday. No one has been able to reach her,” Simmons said. “Now I got a call this morning saying she was missing, so I immediately came here and found out my sister was dead.”

Family members told WGN TV News they have not heard from Sergio.

Sergio, an alumnus of Proviso East High School in Maywood, played in 94 games over seven seasons in the National Football League from 2010 to 2016, the majority of which were spent with the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts.

Maywood PD said they are currently trying to find Sergio Brown, and anyone with information that can help police find him can contact Maywood Police Investigations at 708-368-4131, or Maywood PD’s anonymous line at 708- 450-1787.