The mother of a former NFL player has been found dead in a suspected homicide after both the victim, 73-year-old Myrtle Brown, and ex-Indianapolis Colts defensive back Sergio Brown were reported missing, WGN reported Sunday .

Police in Maywood, Illinois, said the elder Brown was located unresponsive in a creek near her home, and the Cook County Medical Examiners Office confirmed her death on Sunday. She died from injuries consistent with a physical assault, prompting police to investigate the case as a homicide, CNN reported .

Sheila Simmons, the sister of Myrtle Brown, told WGN that she was informed early Saturday that her sister and nephew were missing. Simmons said she noticed things out of order when she visited the residence.