The search for former Alaskan Bush People star Matt Brown has ended in tragedy after his family confirmed that the reality TV personality was found dead in Washington state. He was 42.
Matt's brother, Bear Brown, shared the heartbreaking news in an Instagram video on Sunday, May 31, revealing that authorities had recovered a body from the river where search efforts had been focused for days.
"They found a body in the river a few hours ago and it was positively identified as being Matt," Bear said, per Entertainment Weekly. He also disclosed that their younger brother, Noah Brown, was present during the recovery. According to Bear, Noah "helped them pull him out of the water" and personally identified his brother.
The confirmation comes just days after Bear publicly expressed fears that Matt had died following reports that witnesses had seen him near the Okanogan River in Washington. At the time, Bear cautioned that he could not verify the information but said, "I'm being told that late last night Matt took his own life."
Matt was one of the original stars of Alaskan Bush People, Discovery Channel's long-running reality series that chronicled the Brown family's unconventional off-grid lifestyle. As the eldest son of Billy and Ami Brown, he became a familiar face during the show's early seasons before stepping away from the spotlight.
The series aired for 14 seasons from 2014 through 2022 and developed a devoted audience that followed the family's triumphs and struggles.
In the days leading up to the discovery, Bear spoke candidly about Matt's long battle with addiction and the misunderstandings surrounding his relationship with the family. "He has been struggling for a long time, you know, with alcohol and drugs and stuff," Bear said.
He also pushed back against claims that relatives had abandoned him, explaining, "Everyone thinks that the family has, like, shunned him and won't have anything to do with him, but that's not actually the case. He didn't want anything to do with the family."
Bear revealed that one of his last conversations with Matt came after the brothers unexpectedly crossed paths. During that call, Matt admitted he had relapsed. "He said that he had fallen off the wagon," Bear recalled. "I was like, 'Well, get back on it, man. Everybody falls off. Just get back on it. Go to rehab if you've got to. You've got this.'"
While official findings remain pending, Bear said the outcome was not what he expected. "I would have never suspected he would have hurt himself, honestly," he said. "I worried he was going to end up, like, OD'd or something like that. I didn't think he would hurt himself."
As the family processes the loss, Bear has asked fans to approach the situation with compassion. "Please, please be respectful to my family and to my mom," he said. He also reminded viewers that online comments can have real-world consequences. "People on the other side of your screen ... they are real people too."
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, substance abuse, emotional distress, or thoughts of self-harm, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
