Sergio Brown Pleads Not Guilty in Mother’s Murder Case

Former NFL player Sergio Brown entered a plea of not guilty on Wednesday to charges of first-degree murder and concealment of a dead body in the tragic death of his mother in Illinois, as disclosed by the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.

Discovery of the Crime

The accusations claim that Brown killed his 73-year-old mother, Myrtle Brown, and concealed her body near their shared home in the Chicago suburb of Maywood in September. After Myrtle went missing on September 16, police and court documents revealed that they found her body wrapped in a sheet less than 50 yards from the back door of their home.

A status hearing for the case is scheduled for January 24 in Maywood.

Legal Proceedings

Mexican authorities took Brown into custody in early October after he had flown to Mexico on September 15. US law enforcement later arrested him on October 10, deported him to San Diego, and then extradited him to Maywood to face the charges. In late October, the Illinois judge issued an order holding Brown without bail, expressing concerns about his potential threat to the community.

Medical Examiner’s Findings

The Cook County medical examiner’s office determined that Myrtle Brown died from injuries related to an assault, ruling the manner of death as a homicide, according to Natalia Derevyanny, a spokesperson for the office.

Timeline of Events

In October, prosecutors submitted court documents as part of Brown’s bond proffer, alleging that he inflicted blunt force trauma on Myrtle Brown and left her outside her home.

Furthermore, the documents also revealed that her other son, unnamed in the court records, last communicated with her around 3 p.m. on September 14 and became worried when she stopped responding to text messages.

Family Concerns

Upon checking the home on the morning of September 16, the son found the house empty with no signs of forced entry. Police began searching the residence later that day after relatives reported the pair missing. A former neighbor discovered Myrtle Brown’s body near the home during a community search.

Evidence and Investigation

Evidence gathered during the investigation included Ajax cleaner in the bathtub drain, indicating recent cleaning, and the absence of Myrtle Brown’s iPad, credit cards, and phone. Additionally, surveillance footage captured Brown burning items in a fire pit on the evening of September 14, with burnt fabric found in the same pit, as per the proffer.

Sergio Brown’s Background

Sergio Brown played as a defensive back for the University of Notre Dame before joining the NFL. He signed with the New England Patriots in 2010 as an undrafted free agent and played seven seasons in the league, representing the Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Buffalo Bills.

This report used information from CNN.