Chicago is reeling from the heartbreaking loss of Linda Brown, a 53-year-old special education teacher at Robert Healy Elementary School, whose body was recovered from the icy waters of Lake Michigan after more than a week of desperate searching. What has deepened the community’s grief is the recent discovery by her devastated family of a handwritten letter she left behind—the last poignant message from a woman who dedicated her life to helping vulnerable children.

Brown, a beloved figure in the Bridgeport neighborhood, vanished on January 3, 2026. Her husband, Antwon Brown, woke to find her gone from their Bronzeville home. He initially believed she had left for her regular acupuncture appointment in Wicker Park, a routine she maintained amid recent struggles. But she never arrived. Surveillance footage later captured her walking alone toward the lake, her blue 2021 Honda Civic abandoned nearby.

After an exhaustive search involving police, family, friends, and the Chicago Teachers Union, her body was pulled from the water near the 31st Street Harbor on January 12. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office quickly ruled the death a suicide by drowning following an autopsy, with toxicology results pending.

Now, the discovery of her suicide note has cast a somber shadow over the tragedy. In the carefully penned words, Brown wrote: “Everything was prepared in advance.” The phrase suggests meticulous planning, a quiet resolve that chills those who knew her as a warm, impactful educator. Colleagues and parents remember her as someone who made an “immeasurable impact” on countless young lives, patiently guiding students with special needs through challenges both academic and emotional.

Brown had recently taken a leave of absence from teaching to address mental health concerns. Her husband shared that anxiety had intensified as the new school term approached, despite plans for her return on January 5. Friends described her as strong yet quietly burdened, a woman who poured her energy into others while perhaps struggling to seek help for herself.

The Robert Healy Elementary community is shattered. Principal Erin Kamradt sent a letter to families expressing profound sadness and offering support amid the wave of questions and grief. The Chicago Teachers Union echoed the sentiment, honoring Brown’s legacy and extending condolences to her husband, relatives, students, and coworkers.

This tragedy underscores the silent battles many face, even those who appear pillars of strength. Brown’s story reminds us of the importance of mental health awareness, especially in high-stress professions like teaching. Her light touched thousands—now, her final note leaves a haunting question: What more could have been done to intervene?

As Chicago mourns, the words “Everything was prepared in advance” linger, a heartbreaking testament to a life cut short and a pain too deep for words. May she finally find the peace she sought.