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*.

[Eli9]

Interview with LB's friend at link.

A handful of friends/family are in the area today.

https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/new-video-shows-missing-cps-teacher-linda-brown-getting-out-of-car-not-returning-family-launches-search-at-lakefront/

Surveillance cameras from a Chicago Archdiocese building at the base of the 35th Street bridge caught images of Brown parking her car, getting out alone, and walking across the bridge.
..
The CPS teacher’s family and friends say police went over the area with drones and dogs and came up empty. They plan on starting their search in the area on Saturday.

 

[cjaydub]

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.

I moved away nearly 20 years ago and when I come back to visit family I am not in this immediate area.

That said, like you I'm not remotely skittish about city living and even with some (or lots of) gentrification you couldn't pay me to stroll alone through the lakefront in this area alone at 3am on the weekend.

 

[flowershop]

Linda and her husband were frequently in contact with each other according to him and her family. Odd that they weren't sharing locations with each other. In at least one of the interviews IIRC he said, at the time, that her phone was still ringing.

The couple is in the GenX age range and in my opinion many in that group would not be location sharing. Out of a few GenXers in my circle: One often takes days to respond to my texts. Another categorically avoids all social media and sees it as an invasion of privacy. I am sure there are exceptions but I see a lot hesitancy to adopt technology for social stuff.

 

[Eli9]

The couple is in the GenX age range and in my opinion many in that group would not be location sharing. Out of a few GenXers in my circle: One often takes days to respond to my texts. Another categorically avoids all social media and sees it as an invasion of privacy. I am sure there are exceptions but I see a lot hesitancy to adopt technology for social stuff.

You got me curious, lol.

49% of Boomers and 49% of Gen X report sharing their locations

Location Sharing Survey: 62% of Americans Share Locations, Many Regret It

Location sharing is booming, led by Gen Z. Our survey shows why people share, how often they check, and the regrets behind the trend.

allaboutcookies.org

 

[STLBlues]

You got me curious, lol.

49% of Boomers and 49% of Gen X report sharing their locations

Location Sharing Survey: 62% of Americans Share Locations, Many Regret It

Location sharing is booming, led by Gen Z. Our survey shows why people share, how often they check, and the regrets behind the trend.

allaboutcookies.org

Yep, my wife and I are GenX, older than LB and we've always shared our location. Our siblings also share their location with their spouses.

 

[Curiousobserver]

Yep, my wife and I are GenX, older than LB and we've always shared our location. Our siblings also share their location with their spouses.

Anecdotal, n of 1 data- everyone in my Genx family of brothers and sisters share their location with me.

 

[truthfinder2019]

Searchers canvassed areas along the lakefront, including 31st Street Beach, Burnham Park and near a pedestrian bridge at 35th Street, where Brown was last seen. Volunteers were asked to check grassy areas and shoreline locations.

Linda Brown: Timeline details missing CPS teacher's disappearance, lakefront search underway

Volunteers and family members searched the lakefront Friday for a Chicago Public Schools teacher who has been missing for nearly a week.

www.fox32chicago.com

• Thursday, Jan. 8: Brown’s family said the vehicle was found near 35th Street and Lake Park Avenue. They also released details of surveillance video recorded about 3 a.m. Jan. 3 showing Brown parking her car, exiting the vehicle and walking toward a pedestrian bridge leading to the lakefront. She appeared to be alone and was last seen walking across the bridge.

 

[Inthedetails]

Anecdotal, n of 1 data- everyone in my Genx family of brothers and sisters share their location with me.

GenX me and GenX husband do not share locations on our phones and have never even thought about it.

When one of us leaves, we write a note on a piece of paper and leave it on the kitchen table like it's 1999.

 

[bur]

There are 4 violent registered sex offender within a few blocks north and south of the 35th street bridge. I dont believe this is a suicide any longer, I think because of her mental issues as the girl stated "she loved that area and the water and like to clear her head sometimes" this could be random or she may have have a pattern of this late night mind clearing exercise by the girls statements they dont seemed shocked by how late it is...I watched the virtual walk and once you get over that bridge it becomes creepy and a perfect place for an ambush and on his walk I didn't see another soul! If they dont find her in a few days I doubt its suicide.

 

[Eli9]

There are 4 violent registered sex offender within a few blocks north and south of the 35th street bridge. I dont believe this is a suicide any longer, I think because of her mental issues as the girl stated "she loved that area and the water and like to clear her head sometimes" this could be random or she may have have a pattern of this late night mind clearing exercise by the girls statements they dont seemed shocked by how late it is...I watched the virtual walk and once you get over that bridge it becomes creepy and a perfect place for an ambush and on his walk I didn't see another soul! If they dont find her in a few days I doubt its suicide.

I'm not throwing out your theory as I too related what you did to the friend's statements. But, if foul play resulting in a deceased situation I would have thought remains would have been located by now. There would be no reason to keep her. IMO

I give consideration to the fact this area really wasn't known until maybe Wednesday - unless it was earlier and the Brown family didn't have permission to release that information sooner. I know that LE drones and dogs were used to search and it sounds like a larger search is being planned for tomorrow. Really hoping for something to turn up in those searches.

 

[ly502]

I'm the first person to be scared out of my wits in a bad area and turn to a foul play scenario - the only thought was that it was so cold and the weather was so bad that who would be out in it at that hour? From those in the discussion that are from the area, are there encampments nearby or is it more just a desolate area at night where you're likely to encounter someone unsavory?

 

[cjaydub]

I'm the first person to be scared out of my wits in a bad area and turn to a foul play scenario - the only thought was that it was so cold and the weather was so bad that who would be out in it at that hour? From those in the discussion that are from the area, are there encampments nearby or is it more just a desolate area at night where you're likely to encounter someone unsavory?

My experience with the area is likely considerably out of date, but from my experience the area would be somewhat desolate (especially given the time of year) and dimly lit.

That said, the area wouldn't be completely devoid of people, just very few of them on a Friday night in January when it's 20 degrees out. Those that would be there would likely not be there to take in the scenery at the lake.

I just can't underscore it enough how odd it would be for a regular grown adult to drive over to the lakeshore and walk around at that time of night at that time of year. Perhaps things have changed that much for the better, but when I lived there that was almost unthinkable even for a group of larger, able-bodied men in their 20s (not that we didn't do it), let alone a teacher in her 50s.

 

[bur]

I'm not throwing out your theory as I too related what you did to the friend's statements. But, if foul play resulting in a deceased situation I would have thought remains would have been located by now. There would be no reason to keep her. IMO

I give consideration to the fact this area really wasn't known until maybe Wednesday - unless it was earlier and the Brown family didn't have permission to release that information sooner. I know that LE drones and dogs were used to search and it sounds like a larger search is being planned for tomorrow. Really hoping for something to turn up in those searches.

If they dont find remains in a few days thats when this gets freaky.

 

[Inthedetails]

If they dont find remains in a few days thats when this gets freaky.

Lake Michigan is huge. It's literally a Great Lake.

jmo

 

[flowershop]

You got me curious, lol.

49% of Boomers and 49% of Gen X report sharing their locations

Location Sharing Survey: 62% of Americans Share Locations, Many Regret It

Location sharing is booming, led by Gen Z. Our survey shows why people share, how often they check, and the regrets behind the trend.

allaboutcookies.org

That is so much higher than I expected. Thanks for getting some data on it.

 

[STLBlues]

That is so much higher than I expected. Thanks for getting some data on it.

I guess, like everything else, our perspective is based on our own experiences.

 

[GraceG]

The night she went missing and was last seen it was 20 degrees in Chicago. With the wind coming off the lake it could have been single digits with wind chill. I don't see a sex offender or randomly wandering criminal just hanging around the area at 3 am, an hour after bars have closed, in those conditions, and seeing her as a crime of opportunity. It's dark, there is water close and depending on the wind speed and direction there can be waves AND icy conditions along the shore. Even if self harm wsn't an intent it would be easy to end up in the water if one is distracted or otherwise not 100%.focused on their surroundings. https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/chicago/60608/january-weather/348308

 

[kae27]

My experience with the area is likely considerably out of date, but from my experience the area would be somewhat desolate (especially given the time of year) and dimly lit.

That said, the area wouldn't be completely devoid of people, just very few of them on a Friday night in January when it's 20 degrees out. Those that would be there would likely not be there to take in the scenery at the lake.

I just can't underscore it enough how odd it would be for a regular grown adult to drive over to the lakeshore and walk around at that time of night at that time of year. Perhaps things have changed that much for the better, but when I lived there that was almost unthinkable even for a group of larger, able-bodied men in their 20s (not that we didn't do it), let alone a teacher in her 50s.

Agreed. Even with the changes in that area, I think your description is apt, and that strolling along over there is not what anyone of sound mind and without nefarious intent would be doing.

The night she went missing and was last seen it was 20 degrees in Chicago. With the wind coming off the lake it could have been single digits with wind chill. I don't see a sex offender or randomly wandering criminal just hanging around the area at 3 am, an hour after bars have closed, in those conditions, and seeing her as a crime of opportunity. It's dark, there is water close and depending on the wind speed and direction there can be waves AND icy conditions along the shore. Even if self harm wsn't an intent it would be easy to end up in the water if one is distracted or otherwise not 100%.focused on their surroundings. https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/chicago/60608/january-weather/348308

It is usually warmer, not cooler, by the lake during the winter (and cooler there in the summer). However, given the crazy winds we've been having very regularly lately, I think your assumption of single digits could still be true.

Edit to add: what I'm trying to say is that she might not have been of sound mind to walk there, and as some have speculated self-harm is probably the leading contender here, but in that area I also think it's possible she met someone with nefarious intent. Either way I'm not hopeful. What a lovely lady she seemed to be.

 

[cjaydub]

New image of missing Chicago teacher released by police as search nears 1 week

I don't know about anyone else, but a photo like this isn't enough to prove to me that this is 100% her, even if it showed the person getting out of her car wearing her clothes.

I'd be curious to know if there's video/images of her face.

 

[PNW]

I grew up in Chicago, but haven't lived there for quite some time. I thought I might add some insight here.

I saw someone mention that the Wicker Park address was something like 20+ miles from her house. It's not. It's more or less 8 miles each way. Maybe 15 minutes on Saturday morning. I wouldn't imagine that there were a plethora of options for acupuncture in Bronzeville, so it kind of makes sense to go up there.

One thing to note, the neighborhood that the missing person lived in was not exactly what I would call one of the best neighborhoods in the city. Certainly not the worst, but not great. Things certainly could have changed a bit since I lived there.

It’s a middle class neighborhood with lots of Black owned businesses and amenities. Lots of beautiful homes and a lot of rich history. People (not you specifically) hear the south side of Chicago and assume the worst.