Ex-NFL Star Missing After Mother Found Dead in Creek

Sergio Brown is best known as a football star. He started his career in college, playing for Notre Dame. In 2010, he signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent, then played seven seasons in the NFL as a member of the Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Buffalo Bills. However, this week, he is in the news for a very different reason: After his mother was found dead in a creek, he has gone missing. 

On Saturday, authorities discovered the body of 73-year-old Myrtle Brown in a creek near her home. 

In a press release courtesy of the Maywood Police Department, authorities reveal that relatives contacted them after they'd been unable to find or contact her or her son.

According to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office, Brown died from injuries related to an assault. They ruled her manner of death as homicide.

"Thank you, everyone, for all of your outreach, help, love and condolences,"  Nick Brown, Seregio's brother, wrote on Instagram. "It's a sad but hopeful time, and we will all get through this together. Mom always told me, 'tough times don't last' and our last conversation about tough times being temporary is my beacon of hope."

"Mom, thank you for being strong, caring, diligent, fancy, funny, and for saving my art. I won't let you down," he continued. 

"My brother Sergio is still missing. If anyone knows where he is I want him to know that I love you and please come home," he added. 

"People, please don't approach the property, this is still an ongoing investigation by the Maywood Police Department. If you have any information on Sergio's whereabouts please send them to the Maywood Police Department."

"Myrtle, she was an outstanding woman, and I'm hoping she's in the right place and she's with God," Carlos Cortez, Myrtle Brown's next-door neighbor, told WBBM. "I never would've expected this in a million years."

Cortez told CBS News he last saw the mother and son in person on Thursday. He added that police had seen footage of Sergio on his Ring doorbell. "They seen him taking out the trash, and they seen him have a bonfire," he said, adding that family members had told him that Sergio "wasn't himself the last few months. He was out of his mind."

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Police ask anyone with information to contact an anonymous tip line at 708-450-1787.