IL IL-Linda Brown, 53, teacher, left home in Bronzeville for an acupuncture appoint. in Wicker Park, didn't arrive, 3 Jan., 2026,*Blue Honda#CX57470*.

[Izzylizzy]

dbm

 

[ASipowicz]

Hidden True Crime ... at 14:17 an interview begins with Linda's niece Jen Rivera who owns a media company that hosts true crime podcasts. I just started listening to the interview ...

 

[GraceG]

Here is a google map of where her car was found and the pedestrian bridge to take you over to the lakeshore. Missing CPS teacher seen getting out of car near lakefront on South Side, not returning, family says

S Lake Park Ave & E 35th St · Chicago, IL 60653

Intersection

www.google.com

 

[bur]

OK this is weird...Was it 3 am Saturday? She went to bed Friday night before her husband, he followed later and when he awoke 8:35am SATURDAY she was gone he assumed to her acupuncture. So she woke up, snuck out was spotted walking over the bridge to the water? Whoa I hope thats not the case but looks like it. When was the car located again? Weird thing is I would know if my wife left the bed got in the car and left but Im a light sleeper maybe he isn't.

 

[Inthedetails]

OK this is weird...Was it 3 am Saturday? She went to bed Friday night before her husband, he followed later and when he awoke 8:35am SATURDAY she was gone he assumed to her acupuncture. So she woke up, snuck out was spotted walking over the bridge to the water? Whoa I hope thats not the case but looks like it. When was the car located again? Weird thing is I would know if my wife left the bed got in the car and left but Im a light sleeper maybe he isn't.

That timing is my understanding - she left during the night and when the husband awoke, she was gone.

jmo

 

[CrimeDawg123]

OK this is weird...Was it 3 am Saturday? She went to bed Friday night before her husband, he followed later and when he awoke 8:35am SATURDAY she was gone he assumed to her acupuncture. So she woke up, snuck out was spotted walking over the bridge to the water? Whoa I hope thats not the case but looks like it. When was the car located again? Weird thing is I would know if my wife left the bed got in the car and left but Im a light sleeper maybe he isn't.

So the last sighting was Saturday morning - was this video from the pedestrian bridge when that happened?

 

[Eli9]

OK this is weird...Was it 3 am Saturday? She went to bed Friday night before her husband, he followed later and when he awoke 8:35am SATURDAY she was gone he assumed to her acupuncture. So she woke up, snuck out was spotted walking over the bridge to the water? Whoa I hope thats not the case but looks like it. When was the car located again? Weird thing is I would know if my wife left the bed got in the car and left but Im a light sleeper maybe he isn't.

Yes, if the reporting is accurate, she left the house not long after her husband retired to bed. My husband and I are both heavy sleepers and most likely wouldn't notice but I would have left him a note if I was going to an appointment or woke him up to say so in person. I understand why he assumed she had left for a long standing appointment. Sad. Also I think the car was found on Wednesday 1/7

 

[Maat99]

She left the house on foot, but the car was also missing? Did she take a walk and come back to the house?

 

[bur]

There are previous reports she was spotted spotted Saturday afternoon at the 4550 block. Now a report states video and she been spotted at 3am Saturday morning so obviously the previous sighting is not accurate! Good point about walk a bout then came back got the car

 

[Curiousobserver]

She left in the wee hours of the morning. Nobody knows how she got from her home to her car, LE and the descriptions they put out are just guessing based on the information they have when they write those. I don't find any contradictions in the previous reports troubling. Their perspective evolves as they get more data.

At some point she ended up alone in the middle of the night down by the water, a scenario we have seen many times and almost always leads to one outcome.

 

[Eli9]

There are previous reports she was spotted spotted Saturday afternoon at the 4550 block which is across from her residence 1.8 miles from the location her car was found. Now a report states video and she been spotted at 3am Saturday morning so obviously the previous sighting is not accurate! Good point about walk a bout then came back got the car

I don't know why CPD isn't talking because they would be offering facts. Maybe as others have implied it's their general MO not to update the public. The only updates are coming from family and perhaps that is why some dots don't seem to connect perfectly.

The way I understand it is that AB told LE that he last saw his wife around midnight (which would technically be Saturday 1/3) at home. In missing cases home addresses are never, ever given and instead a generic 'block' is presented to protect the privacy of the family. There was only one mention of Saturday afternoon which I think was incorrect. JMO

I've deleted the address you provided in your post. You may want to edit as well. MOO

 

[bur]

Thanks Ill remember that.... newbie here. Is there video of her walking back across the bridge? Is that are a safe area at 3 am for a small petite female? She is obviously upset

I don't know why CPD isn't talking because they would be offering facts. Maybe as others have implied it's their general MO not to update the public. The only updates are coming from family and perhaps that is why some dots don't seem to connect perfectly.

The way I understand it is that AB told LE that he last saw his wife around midnight (which would technically be Saturday 1/3) at home. In missing cases home addresses are never, ever given and instead a generic 'block' is presented to protect the privacy of the family. There was only one mention of Saturday afternoon which I think was incorrect. JMO

I've deleted the address you provided in your post. You may want to edit as well. MOO

 

[CTPDMom]

The 24 hour rule is somewhat of a generalization (bear in mine I have no handler experience but have worked alongside of dogs searching for victims of plane crashes that were either thrown from or walked away from the crash scene). The best scent trail, obviously is in that 24 hour window but some dogs can search beyond that by several days, depending on ambient conditions. Cool, moist days with no wind are the best. Scent may pool, cling, and survive in shady areas and in such conditions past 24 hours.

My post was more about the fact that for a time they'd want to keep people away, but once the dogs do their work there's no real reason to keep the area free from people. I only said 24 hours because it had already been about 24 hours and my assumption was that by that time they'd completed any K9 search that was going to happen. But I agree that dogs can search well past that if needed.

 

[oceanverde]

There is no public video that I've seen and her niece has said (on the podcast linked above) it's not a great area for her to be alone at that time of day so they are concerned with foul play still even though self harm seems likely.

 

[bur]

This area is rated a D and has higher than normal crime especially for a vulnerable petite female alone at 3am dang! Also this seems to convenient that she has mental issues and now the car is spotted near a bridge that leads to the water at 3 am. Thats what I would want you to think ta know!

 

[Eli9]

Thanks Ill remember that.... newbie here. Is there video of her walking back across the bridge? Is that are a safe area at 3 am for a small petite female? She is obviously upset

Totally understandable and welcome! Nice to have newbies contribute

 

[GraceG]

There is no public video that I've seen and her niece has said (on the podcast linked above) it's not a great area for her to be alone at that time of day so they are concerned with foul play still even though self harm seems likely.

I've lived here since 2015. I'm almost 5' 9" and 164 pounds and fit - and with cold weather clothing would more look like a male college student than a grandma, and there is NO way I'd go down to the waterfront after dark by myself. Foul play can't be ruled out, but I agree, that's the least likely of events based on the facts as known to us. Just saw that they have dive teams and drones searching the area. Family to resume search lakefront on South Side for missing CPS teacher

 

[cjaydub]

I've lived here since 2015. I'm almost 5' 9" and 164 pounds and fit - and with cold weather clothing would more look like a male college student than a grandma, and there is NO way I'd go down to the waterfront after dark by myself. Foul play can't be ruled out, but I agree, that's the least likely of events based on the facts as known to us. Just saw that they have dive teams and drones searching the area. Family to resume search lakefront on South Side for missing CPS teacher

Yeah, I grew up in the area and lived there until my mid-20s. I'm a decently sized (6', 200lbs), street-smart guy and there is no way in hell I would be walking through the lakefront at 3am on a Friday night/Saturday morning, especially down where her car was found. Even near the best of neighborhoods the lakefront can draw an unsavory element after dark, especially on the weekends.

As others have mentioned, self harm seems somewhat plausible. However, as someone familiar with the area, I wouldn't think that would have been the first place that comes to mind to do something like that. The overpass of LSD is pretty low there and obviously she would have been found immediately. Also, I wouldn't think the lake itself would offer much in the way of methods. Do we know if she owned a firearm?

Do we have any idea if LB had a history of substance abuse?

 

[ASipowicz]

Here is what LB's walk over the bridge would have looked like. We had nearly two inches of rain along with high winds in Chicago last night, I dont know if/how that would affect the water level and wave action along the lakeshore.

 

[kae27]

Yeah, I grew up in the area and lived there until my mid-20s. I'm a decently sized (6', 200lbs), street-smart guy and there is no way in hell I would be walking through the lakefront at 3am on a Friday night/Saturday morning, especially down where her car was found. Even near the best of neighborhoods the lakefront can draw an unsavory element after dark, especially on the weekends.

As others have mentioned, self harm seems somewhat plausible. However, as someone familiar with the area, I wouldn't think that would have been the first place that comes to mind to do something like that. The overpass of LSD is pretty low there and obviously she would have been found immediately. Also, I wouldn't think the lake itself would offer much in the way of methods. Do we know if she owned a firearm?

Do we have any idea if LB had a history of substance abuse?

That area has gentrified a lot in recent years, but it's still not a place I'd walk at night. No way, no how, and I'm not at all skittish about city living.