Ex-NFL Player Arrested In Mom's Death, Will Be Brought Back To Chicago Area

MAYWOOD, IL — Former NFL player Sergio Brown has been taken into custody and faces first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of his mother, who was found dead in her backyard in September, Maywood Police officials announced on Wednesday.

Police said Brown, 35, was deported out of Mexico and was taken into custody by law enforcement in San Diego. The San Diego Police Department Threat Management Unit, along with other local and federal agencies, took Brown into custody after a warrant was issued for first-degree murder for the death of his mother, 73-year-old Myrtle Brown, Maywood Police said in a news release.

Authorities are working to have Brown transferred to Illinois to face charges

Myrtle Brown was found dead in her backyard in Maywood in September, and Sergio Brown was reported missing. Cook County Medical officials said that Myrtle Brown died from multiple injuries related to assault, and her manner of death has been ruled a homicide.

Brown had been reported missing by his brother, who had posted that he had not seen Sergio Brown, a former Notre Dame standout and NFL veteran, since his mother’s death on Sept. 16.

Brown had appeared in social media posts that were traced to Mexico. The social media videos published on his platforms included messages saying that he was being targeted by police.

CNN reported earlier on Tuesday that Mexican authorities had known about Brown’s whereabouts since Sept. 19 and had been working to get him deported in connection with his mother’s death.

Earlier this week, Nick Brown, the former NFL player’s brother, posted on Instagram, criticizing the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office’s handling of his mother’s death investigation.

“The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office is not upholding public safety or justice for my mom, Myrtle Jean Simmons-Brown,” his post reads. “My mom is gone, my dad is gone, and my brother is missing. It’s not about saving face its (sic) about saving justice.”

Brown was born in Maywood and played football for Proviso East High School. He went on to play as a defensive back at the University of Notre Dame from 2006-09 before being signed in 2010 as an undrafted free agent by the New England Patriots.

Brown spent two seasons with the Patriots and went on to play three with the Indianapolis Colts — starting eight games in 2014 — followed by seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills.

He last played for the Bills during the 2016 season.