Former NFL player Sergio Brown, who had been missing since his mother鈥檚 death last month, was taken into custody on Tuesday after a warrant was issued for first-degree murder in her killing, police said in a statement.
Brown, 35, was arrested in San Diego while re-entering the U.S. from Mexico, police in Maywood, Illinois, said. He is awaiting extradition to Maywood, a suburb of Chicago, to face the murder charge, police said.
Mexican law enforcement officers have known Brown鈥檚 whereabouts since at least September 19, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told CNN, which was first to report Brown鈥檚 arrest. Mexican law enforcement deported him after authorities in Illinois obtained an arrest warrant pertaining to his mother鈥檚 death, the source said.
San Diego Sheriff鈥檚 Department inmate records indicate Brown was in the agency鈥檚 custody Wednesday morning and being held on a felony fugitive arrest warrant.
The body of his mother, Myrtle Brown, 73, was found in a creek behind her Maywood home on September 16, Maywood police said. Relatives had alerted police they鈥檇 been unable to find or contact her or her son, police said.
The Cook County Medical Examiner鈥檚 Office determined she died from injuries related to an assault, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide, according to spokesperson Natalia Derevyanny.
Sergio Brown played defensive back for Notre Dame before signing with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played seven seasons in the NFL as a member of the Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills.
FAMILY SAID THEY HAD NO CONTACT WITH BROWN
A day after his mother was found dead, Brown鈥檚 brother took to social media to ask for help in finding him.
鈥淢y brother Sergio is still missing,鈥� Nick Brown wrote on Instagram. 鈥淚f anyone knows where he is I want him to know that I love you and please come home.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 a sad but hopeful time, and we will all get through this together,鈥� Nick Brown wrote. 鈥淢om always told me, 鈥榯ough times don鈥檛 last,鈥� and our last conversation about tough times being temporary is my beacon of hope.
鈥淢om, thank you for being strong, caring, diligent, fancy, funny, and for saving my art. I won鈥檛 let you down.鈥�
Maywood police said last month they were aware of at least one video circulating on social media that appears to show Sergio Brown in a tropical location rambling about 鈥渇ake news鈥� and claiming he thought his mother was on vacation. It is not clear where or when the video was taken, and police did not confirm to CNN the person in the video is Sergio Brown.
Last week, Myrtle Brown鈥檚 family issued a statement through attorney Christian Conway calling on authorities to advance the investigation into her death, saying there was sufficient evidence for an arrest.
鈥淲e implore law enforcement agencies, particularly the Cook County State鈥檚 Attorney鈥檚 Office, to work diligently and thoroughly in pursuit of truth and accountability for Myrtle Jean Simmons-Brown. No family should bear the weight of uncertainty regarding the circumstances of their loved one鈥檚 passing,鈥� the family said.
The family also said they had not been in touch with Sergio Brown since his disappearance.
鈥淲e continue to pray for his well-being and advocate for his immediate and safe return to the United States. Let us work together to turn this tragic loss into a force for positive change and justice,鈥� the statement read.
鈥淢yrtle was a beautiful, loving, and inspirational soul that made everyone around her feel like they mattered. With her contagious smile and personality, our loss of Myrtle has left an indescribable void not only in our lives, but in our communities,鈥� the family said.
Amid the search for Sergio Brown, neighbours praised Myrtle Brown to CNN affiliate WBBM.
鈥淢yrtle, she was an outstanding woman, and I鈥檓 hoping she鈥檚 in the right place and she鈥檚 with God,鈥� Carlos Cortez, her next-door neighbour, told WBBM. 鈥淚 never would鈥檝e expected this in a million years.鈥�
Neighbours described Myrtle as a sharp dresser, outgoing person and someone who loved to go dancing.
鈥淛ust a lovely lady. Very soft-spoken, outgoing. Always on the go,鈥� neighbour Kevin Grayer told CNN affiliate WLS. 鈥淛ust a happy person. Her personality was just wonderful.鈥�
鈥淪he didn鈥檛 deserve that,鈥� Grayer said. 鈥淪he was too good of a person to die like that. That鈥檚 just sad.鈥�
