Sergio Brown, a former NFL player who had been missing since his mother was found dead last month, has been arrested and is expected to face a first-degree murder charge in the killing, police said.
Brown was taken into custody on Tuesday in San Diego, California, after being deported from Mexico by the authorities there. He is now awaiting extradition to Illinois, where he will face the murder charge in the death of his 73-year-old mother, Myrtle Brown.
The case has shocked the sports world and raised questions about Brown’s mental health and motive for the alleged crime.
Mother’s body found in a creek
Myrtle Brown was reported missing on September 16 by relatives who became concerned after they had not been able to find or contact her or her son, who lived with her in a Chicago suburb.
Police went to search their home and found Myrtle’s body near a creek not far from the residence. She had died from injuries sustained during an assault and her death was ruled a homicide by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Sergio Brown was nowhere to be found and was considered a missing person as well. Police issued an arrest warrant for him in connection with the killing of his mother.
Former NFL player posted rambling videos online
While on the run, Sergio Brown posted rambling videos and messages online from Mexico, where he had traveled after his mother’s death. In some of the videos, he called reports of the murder “fake news” and claimed he thought his mother was on vacation. He also accused both the FBI and Maywood Police Department of involvement in the case.
In one of the videos, he said: “I’m not going to jail for something I didn’t do. I’m not going to jail for something that somebody else did. I’m not going to jail for something that somebody else set up.”
He also said he was “the best safety in the world” and that he had “a lot of money” and “a lot of power”.
The videos were widely circulated on social media and drew attention from the public and the media. Some of his former teammates and coaches expressed concern and disbelief over his behavior and situation.
Police did not confirm to CNN that the person in the video was Sergio Brown and said they were investigating the video’s authenticity.
Family urged officials to advance the case
Last week, Myrtle Brown’s family released a statement urging officials to advance the case and saying police had sufficient evidence to make an arrest in the case.
“No family should bear the weight of uncertainty regarding the circumstances of their loved one’s passing,” the family statement said.
The family also said they had not been in contact with Sergio Brown since his disappearance and that they were “heartbroken” by the loss of their mother.
They asked for privacy and respect during this difficult time.
Sergio Brown had a six-year career in the NFL
Sergio Brown was born in Maywood, Illinois, and attended a local high school before playing college football at Notre Dame University.
He started his professional career as a safety in the NFL with the New England Patriots in 2010. He also played for the Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars before leaving the NFL in 2016.
He was known for his special teams skills and his energetic personality. He was also involved in some charitable causes, such as supporting children with cancer and donating turkeys to families in need.
He is now facing a possible life sentence without parole if convicted of first-degree murder.
