SAN DIEGO, CA – Former NFL player, Sergio Brown, 35, has been apprehended by U.S. law enforcement in connection with the death of his mother, according to a source familiar with the investigation. Brown’s mother, 73-year-old Myrtle Brown, was found deceased near her home in suburban Chicago last month.
Brown, who had reportedly traveled to Mexico, was deported on Tuesday and taken into custody near San Diego based on an arrest warrant issued in Illinois. Efforts are currently underway to transfer Brown from Southern California to the Chicago area.
Mexican law enforcement had been aware of Brown’s location since September 19, and he was deported after Illinois authorities secured an arrest warrant related to his mother’s death. As of Wednesday morning, Brown was in the custody of the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, held on a felony fugitive arrest warrant.
Myrtle Brown’s body was discovered on September 16 after family members, unable to reach her or her son, alerted the police. Her body was found near a creek behind her home in Maywood, approximately 11 miles from Chicago. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office concluded that Myrtle Brown’s death was a result of injuries from an assault and ruled it a homicide.
Sergio Brown, a former defensive back for Notre Dame, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2010. In total, he played for seven seasons in the NFL, with stints at the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Buffalo Bills.
Last month, Maywood police acknowledged the existence of a social media video allegedly showing Sergio Brown in a tropical location, dismissing “fake news” and claiming he believed his mother was on vacation. The video’s origin and authenticity have not been confirmed.
The family of Myrtle Brown, through their attorney Christian Conway, issued a statement last week urging authorities to expedite the investigation into her death, citing sufficient evidence for an arrest. The family has not had contact with Sergio Brown since his disappearance.