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*.

[Lisbeth_S]

One other option given the history of mental health and medications is a dissociative episode (or fugue).
Many years ago a relative of mine (with MH issues and medications on board) got up in the middle of the night and drove around in their car for hours, before finally being found in the early morning in a different city and completely unaware of what had happened, where they where, how they got there.
They were lucky they were found safe and quickly, but not everyone gets to be this lucky.

Dissociative fugue

 

[cjaydub]

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.

While my experience living in the area was some time ago, with all due respect I somewhat disagree with this.

While Bronzeville might be trending in a direction that lends itself to being more identified as "middle class," one of the most historically dangerous neighborhoods in the city (Washington Park) begins like 5 or 6 blocks to south of where LB lived. Also, Fuller Park (just to the west) is pretty damn dangerous too.

If you look at a ranking of neighborhoods by violent crime rates, you'll find that Bronzeville's rate is a bit above average for the city of Chicago. And, a number of the neighborhoods bordering it are amongst the city's worst.

I say none of this as dig upon the area in the slightest. As you say it does have a rich cultural history, especially in regards to Black culture.

 

[bestill]

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

View attachment 636082


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.

From you link:

Her husband said Brown had her phone, purse and credit cards when she left for her appointment.

Has it been reported if these items were found in her car?

 

[Kittypoo]

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

Wow that lake is vast

 

[dotr]

Jan 9, 2026
The family and friends of a Chicago Public Schools (CPS) teacher who has been missing since Saturday are searching the area where police found her vehicle.

 

[dotr]

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

Police have released new information and photos of a missing Chicago Public Schools teacher who disappeared while heading to an acupuncture appointment last weekend.

www.nbcchicago.com

''An image released by police Friday shows Linda Brown on Jan. 3 in the area of 3500 S. Lake Park Ave., the last time she has been seen, police said. She's wearing a black winter hat, a black coat, black pants and black rubber snow boots.

"The missing person was last seen alone walking eastbound from that location and could be in need of immediate medical attention," the department wrote in a release.''

''An image released by police Friday shows Linda Brown on Jan. 3 in the area of 3500 S. Lake Park Ave., the last time she has been seen, police said. She's wearing a black winter hat, a black coat, black pants and black rubber snow boots.

 

[Hanoi2009]

Here are my thoughts on the lakefront. I spent several months in the summer and early fall training for a marathon along the lakefront. Because I was running 18 miles after work, (also a teacher), my runs were long (I’m slow) and would end in the dark. I did an up-and-back through the Gold Coast/Lincoln Park areas. This is a very populated area, yet the path became quite deserted and scary at times. Many places you could be pulled into the woods or tall grasses or grabbed under a bridge. There is NO WAY I would go where she went at that time of night- not due to neighborhood but due to probably no one else there. Also, I ran a race once in April and the waves and ice were frozen up onto the path. If she wasn’t paying attention, the edges of the path could be incredibly slippery. No idea what this means for LB- just sharing some local perspective.

 

[kae27]

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.

Curious - do you live here? If so, which neighborhood? I didn't get the impression at all in this case that people "hear the south side of Chicago and assume the worst," though I agree with you that that happens. Some of us who live here, or in the case of the poster you replied to, used to, were giving personal knowledge.

I do agree that there's wonderful history there. I have friends who live there. And despite the fact that I'd feel completely confident walking alone as a woman in many of Chicago's neighborhoods, this is not one. My friends who live there would tell you the same.

 

[PNW]

Curious - do you live here? If so, which neighborhood? I didn't get the impression at all in this case that people "hear the south side of Chicago and assume the worst," though I agree with you that that happens. Some of us who live here, or in the case of the poster you replied to, used to, were giving personal knowledge.

I do agree that there's wonderful history there. I have friends who live there. And despite the fact that I'd feel completely confident walking alone as a woman in many of Chicago's neighborhoods, this is not one. My friends who live there would tell you the same.

Yes, I have lived in Bronzeville, so this is my personal knowledge. I’ve walked all over the neighborhood.

 

[crcap]

They’re sure the person in the cctv footage is Linda? I’m assuming they’ve seen it from different angles and not just from the back like we see in the still frame.

 

[kae27]

Yes, I have lived in Bronzeville, so this is my personal knowledge. I’ve walked all over the neighborhood.

I realized now that I didn’t specify at night. I’ve walked all over Bronzeville, too. Just wouldn’t do it by myself at 3 am. If you did, I admire that!

 

[bur]

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

While my experience living in the area was some time ago, with all due respect I somewhat disagree with this.

While Bronzeville might be trending in a direction that lends itself to being more identified as "middle class," one of the most historically dangerous neighborhoods in the city (Washington Park) begins like 5 or 6 blocks to south of where LB lived. Also, Fuller Park (just to the west) is pretty damn dangerous too.

If you look at a ranking of neighborhoods by violent crime rates, you'll find that Bronzeville's rate is a bit above average for the city of Chicago. And, a number of the neighborhoods bordering it are amongst the city's worst.

I say none of this as dig upon the area in the slightest. As you say it does have a rich cultural history, especially in regards to Black culture.

Chicago Police sex offenders site shows Its rated a 5 which is the worse and there are several violent sex offenders living near her block and the 35th street.bridge

 

[bur]

I realized now that I didn’t specify at night. I’ve walked all over Bronzeville, too. Just wouldn’t do it by myself at 3 am. If you did, I admire that!

There is a virtual video someone shared of a night walk over the bridge and down toward the lake, once over the bridge it's incredibly creepy and secluded and would be very easy to be a target. Also she may have have had a pattern of walking late as mentioned by the TV interview of the family ' she likes to go clear her head and loves the lakefront". My point is like I tell my wife dont do the same thing every morning try to change your routine because most criminals are stalkers before they strike. There are plenty there.