Ex-NFL star who ‘disappeared’ will face first-degree murder charges for his mom's death
Kit Roberts
Featured Image Credit: Zach Bolinger/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images / George Gojkovich/Getty Images
A former played in the NFL has been arrested and charged with murder.
Sergio Brown, who played for four professional teams in the NFL during his career, was arrested in California on Tuesday.
Brown, 35, is now set to be extradited to Illinois to face first-degree murder charges following the death of his mother Myrtle Brown, 73.
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Myrtle was found dead outside of her home in Chicago on 16 September after family members reported that she was missing.
Her body was found in a creek, and a medical examiner found that she had suffered from multiple assault injuries.
Brown subsequently 'disappeared' and posted videos from Mexico in which he claimed that allegations and reports of the murder were 'fake news'.
While the former NFL player was missing his family posted to social media urging him to come forward.
His brother Nick Brown posted: “My brother Sergio is still missing.
“If anyone knows where he is I want him to know that I love you and please come home.”
He added: “It’s a sad but hopeful time, and we will all get through this together.
“Mom always told me, ‘tough times don’t last,’ and our last conversation about tough times being temporary is my beacon of hope.
“Mom, thank you for being strong, caring, diligent, fancy, funny, and for saving my art. I won’t let you down.”
Myrtle's family also issued a statement through their attorney Christian Conway in which they claimed there was sufficient evidence for an arrest.
The statement said: “We implore law enforcement agencies, particularly the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, to work diligently and thoroughly in pursuit of truth and accountability for Myrtle Jean Simmons-Brown.
"No family should bear the weight of uncertainty regarding the circumstances of their loved one’s passing."
Speaking to WBBM, neighbours paid tribute to Myrtle.
Neighbour Carlos Cortez said: “Myrtle, she was an outstanding woman, and I’m hoping she’s in the right place and she’s with God.
“I never would’ve expected this in a million years.”
Kevin Grayer told WLS: “Just a lovely lady. Very soft-spoken, outgoing. Always on the go.
“Just a happy person. Her personality was just wonderful.”
He added: “She didn’t deserve that. She was too good of a person to die like that. That’s just sad.”
Brown has now been charged with first-degree murder, carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison with no possibility of parole.