Found Deceased IL - Linda Brown, 53, teacher, left home in Bronzeville for an acupuncture appoint. in Wicker Park, didn't arrive, 3 Jan., 2026

[JEMB135]

I hope she's found soon.

I haven't read the thread and this may not be relevant - but, speaking as a fellow special education teacher (like Linda is), Januaries tend to be particularly stressful, unpleasant months for us, for a multitude of reasons. I myself am having a heck of a time right now. This, coupled with whatever might have been going on for her personally outside of work, probably wouldn't help matters.

Wherever she is I hope she is safe and able to return home peacefully.

Just wanted to reply to offer solidarity - sp.ed. teacher here, too, and also having a tough go of it. Seems to get worse every year. Sending positive vibes to you and to Linda!

 

[haggis]

Just wanted to reply to offer solidarity - sp.ed. teacher here, too, and also having a tough go of it. Seems to get worse every year. Sending positive vibes to you and to Linda!

Yes, @Springrain and @JEMB135, I can imagine your work and its challenges are exhausting. I expect school district cutbacks mean a lack of support for you. I hope there are groups that offer support out of school? You do such important work - thank you, and please take care of yourselves.

 

[Hanoi2009]

Was just curious, so read a bit about suicide. Several sources say that women prefer less-violent means of death- drowning is often in the list of most common causes. JMO

Methods of choice in completed suicides: gender differences and review of literature - PubMed

 

[SimplyCass]

Was just curious, so read a bit about suicide. Several sources say that women prefer less-violent means of death- drowning is often in the list of most common causes. JMO

Methods of choice in completed suicides: gender differences and review of literature - PubMed

That, unfortunately, is no longer true.

Gun Suicides Are Up Among Women (Published 2024)

New C.D.C. data show that firearms remain the leading means of suicide for both men and women.

www.nytimes.com

Women are now equally as likely as men to to use firearms than poisoning/suffocation.

The case is reminds me strongly of Lara Emanuele, also a special education teacher, from Roxbury NJ, who disappeared in June 2023. She parked her car near a hotel and went into the forest. She was found deceased five months later. Missing Woman, Lara Emanuele, Has Been Located Deceased

 

[MesquiteO21]

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

I’ve always wondered if this was ever the case for any of the still missing persons out there. As I understand, it’s a bit rare, but does happen of course. So glad your relative was found safe

moo

 

[Lisbeth_S]

I’ve always wondered if this was ever the case for any of the still missing persons out there. As I understand, it’s a bit rare, but does happen of course. So glad your relative was found safe

moo

You're right, it is rare.

I feel like in this case it may be unlikely, but it would probably be the best case scenario.

MOO

 

[MesquiteO21]

That, unfortunately, is no longer true.

Gun Suicides Are Up Among Women (Published 2024)

New C.D.C. data show that firearms remain the leading means of suicide for both men and women.

www.nytimes.com

Women are now equally as likely as men to to use firearms than poisoning/suffocation.

The case is reminds me strongly of Lara Emanuele, also a special education teacher, from Roxbury NJ, who disappeared in June 2023. She parked her car near a hotel and went into the forest. She was found deceased five months later. Missing Woman, Lara Emanuele, Has Been Located Deceased

Interesting article. Disheartening that suicides among women have seen an increase over the past two decades.

I remember years ago it was known in the mental health communities that women attempt suicide more frequently than men, but men are more successful at completion. If you pair that with guns traditionally being the choice for men and other methods being the choice for women…sadly I wonder if women started “taking note” and have opted for guns to increase the chance they will be successful.

moo

 

[bur]

Another member said dogs had tracked her to the edge of the lake. There are a couple different ways to get to the lake at the end of the bridge, straight is the quickest route but a dirt trails, leads to a resting area called La Ronda Parakata Gathering Space. Left is the lakefront trail and the most ominous at 3AM, a wooded area and someone sent a virtual walk through at late night and it is very creepy. Satellite imagery of that area. Is that a huge drop off at the lake. Like if you slipped or jumped what the distance to the water. Is there a current or is it very deep or shallow then drop off? Im sure they already looked where the dogs hit but just weird nothing!

 

[bur]

 

[GraceG]

Another member said dogs had tracked her to the edge of the lake. There are a couple different ways to get to the lake at the end of the bridge, straight is the quickest route but a dirt trails, leads to a resting area called La Ronda Parakata Gathering Space. Left is the lakefront trail and the most ominous at 3AM, a wooded area and someone sent a virtual walk through at late night and it is very creepy. Satellite imagery of that area. Is that a huge drop off at the lake. Like if you slipped or jumped what the distance to the water. Is there a current or is it very deep or shallow then drop off? Im sure they already looked where the dogs hit but just weird nothing!

This youtube video for tourism in Chicago shows a lakefront trail tour starting at 31st street heading north. There is no big drop from the ground/trail areas to the lake but the lake itself goes deep quickly and the currents can be treacherous any time of year with there is wind and wave action.

 

[Hanoi2009]

That, unfortunately, is no longer true.

Gun Suicides Are Up Among Women (Published 2024)

New C.D.C. data show that firearms remain the leading means of suicide for both men and women.

www.nytimes.com

Women are now equally as likely as men to to use firearms than poisoning/suffocation.

The case is reminds me strongly of Lara Emanuele, also a special education teacher, from Roxbury NJ, who disappeared in June 2023. She parked her car near a hotel and went into the forest. She was found deceased five months later. Missing Woman, Lara Emanuele, Has Been Located Deceased

I followed that one as well. Was so sad to hear that outcome.

 

[Hanoi2009]

That, unfortunately, is no longer true.

Gun Suicides Are Up Among Women (Published 2024)

New C.D.C. data show that firearms remain the leading means of suicide for both men and women.

www.nytimes.com

Women are now equally as likely as men to to use firearms than poisoning/suffocation.

The case is reminds me strongly of Lara Emanuele, also a special education teacher, from Roxbury NJ, who disappeared in June 2023. She parked her car near a hotel and went into the forest. She was found deceased five months later. Missing Woman, Lara Emanuele, Has Been Located Deceased

I reread the article you linked about Lara Emanuele, and it says she left a note. One of the studies I read said that there seems to be a correlation between those who write notes and successfully dying by self-harm. The researchers suggested that leaving a note seems to indicate more resolve to be successful in the effort, not just making an attempt. JMO

 

[bur]

This youtube video for tourism in Chicago shows a lakefront trail tour starting at 31st street heading north. There is no big drop from the ground/trail areas to the lake but the lake itself goes deep quickly and the currents can be treacherous any time of year with there is wind and wave action.

Thanks. The water is beautiful. Have they searched that area yet? Obviously that water is so cold you would only last minutes. If they dont find something with the next week they need to rethink this.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

If somebody went into the water, how long would it take for their body to surface in this weather?

 

[Inthedetails]

If somebody went into the water, how long would it take for their body to surface in this weather?

I don't know, but it's also a question of where would a body surface.

Lake Michigan is absolutely HUGE.

jmo

 

[dotr]

https://glisa.umich.edu/sustained-assessment/michigan-climatology/

''Lake Michigan connects to Lake Huron through the Straits of Mackinac. Lakes Michigan and Huron are treated as one unit for water levels as there is no physical separation between the lake bodies. Water from Lake Michigan is diverted out of the watershed by the Chicago diversion, originally completed in the early 1800s. Its capacity was increased in 1900 after the Chicago Sanitary and Shipping Canal was completed.''

Probably unrelated or we would have heard about it, but fwiw.. noting.
Jan 9, 2026

https://www.woodtv.com/news/ottawa-county/deputies-body-washed-up-on-shores-of-lake-michigan/

''PARK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Deputies are investigating after a body washed ashore from Lake Michigan Friday.
A person walking along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Park Township discovered the body and contacted law enforcement, according to a release.''

 

[GraceG]

https://glisa.umich.edu/sustained-assessment/michigan-climatology/

''Lake Michigan connects to Lake Huron through the Straits of Mackinac. Lakes Michigan and Huron are treated as one unit for water levels as there is no physical separation between the lake bodies. Water from Lake Michigan is diverted out of the watershed by the Chicago diversion, originally completed in the early 1800s. Its capacity was increased in 1900 after the Chicago Sanitary and Shipping Canal was completed.''
View attachment 636705

Thank you @dotr . That's a great depiction. Powerful currents can carry bodies far from the initial incident site. and though not common, some are never found

 

[ly502]

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?

Is there somewhere within walking distance along the lake where she could have gone in and not been found, swept out perhaps? I keep remembering this post of yours as they look along the lake.

 

[cjaydub]

Is there somewhere within walking distance along the lake where she could have gone in and not been found, swept out perhaps? I keep remembering this post of yours as they look along the lake.

Yes, there are plenty of places where one could easily get into the lake.

However, I tend to believe that, if she went into the lake, it would most likely have been on purpose. Unless you're pretty intensely impaired it would be hard to get in on accident. Though I don't think that stretch along the lake has lights, but I could be wrong. So, I guess really anything is possible.

 

[Eli9]

We haven't heard, IIRC, what was or wasn't left behind in the car. From the one still shot released it doesn't appear she had her purse with her unless it was on the opposite arm.

My personal opinion is that she left her belongings behind in the car. This case is super sad.