Former NFL player Sergio Brown was denied pretrial release by Cook County Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez in the murder case of his mother, Myrtle Brown. Brown, who faces charges of first-degree murder and concealing a homicide, appeared in court for a detention hearing on Wednesday. The body of Myrtle Brown was discovered near a creek in Maywood last month, and her death was ruled a homicide.
During the hearing, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Jose Villarreal stated that Sergio Brown had purchased a one-way ticket to Cancun, Mexico, after being the last person seen with his mother before her slaying. Villarreal also mentioned that Brown was observed burning fabric on the night of her death and flew out to Cancun the next morning. Charges on Brown’s credit card suggested he had rented two homes in Colombia before being deported back to the U.S.
Villarreal further revealed that the cellphones of both Brown and his mother showed they were near the same location at the estimated time of her death. Additionally, investigators found similarities between DNA samples from under Myrtle Brown’s fingernails and a toothbrush in Sergio Brown’s bedroom.
Public defender Robert Fox argued that there was no direct evidence and that the case relied solely on circumstantial evidence. Assistant public defender Charnelle Dunlap declined to comment on the case at this time.
Sergio Brown, 35, played college football at the University of Notre Dame and had a career in the NFL, playing for teams such as the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Buffalo Bills.
Brown will remain detained until his next court date, scheduled for November 22.
