Alaskan Bush People star Matt Brown has died on the age of 43, in response to his brother Bear Brown.
“They found a body within the river just a few hours ago and it was positively identified as being Matt,” Bear, 38, announced via TikTok on Saturday, May 30. “[Brother] Noah was with them and helped them pull the body out of the water. Noah identified [Matt].”
Bear said that he “never would have suspected that [Matt] would have hurt himself” though his brother “struggled for a very long time.”
“I used to be so anxious that he would find yourself ODed or something like that. I didn’t think he would hurt himself,” Bear told his followers.
Bear confirmed that the coroner has not yet performed an autopsy on Matt though it’s theorized that the death was “self-inflicted.”
“I’d ask people to please, please be respectful to my family and to my mom. Please watch the comments that you just leave, guys,” he asked. “Sometimes words can hurt greater than fists can … In considered one of [Matt’s] last videos, he was talking about how negative people were on his posts. You guys should consider that individuals on the opposite side of your screen, people you’re watching a video of, are real people too.”
Bear thanked any followers who supported the rescue efforts for Matt after he went missing earlier within the week.
“I’d just ask you to please, please, please be kind,” Bear pleaded. “Especially with my siblings … Please leave my family out of it.”
The confirmation of Matt’s death comes hours after Oregon authorities suspended search efforts for a missing man believed to be the truth star resulting from weather concerns.
“In the course of the day of search efforts, the river conditions deteriorated and hampered search efforts,” a press release read. “After rainfall from the previous night, the river level and river current speed increased. The lively river flow increases the likelihood that the male has not remained near the situation last seen.”
Local authorities added, “The search has been suspended resulting from dangerous river conditions and pending information to give attention to search efforts.”
Matt’s family expressed concerns about his well-being amid a police seek for an unidentified man in his area. On Thursday, May 28, Matt’s brother Bear posted a TikTok video addressing claims that Matt was seen by a witness near an area river.
“I’m being told that late last night that Matt took his own life,” Bear, 38, said within the clip. “I can’t confirm that that’s true, but witnesses say that he was seen in a river, at a river or near a river.”
Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office received a call on Wednesday, May 27, to report a person sitting within the shallow waters of the Okanogan River in Washington state, per TMZ. The caller, who remained anonymous, looked away and once they turned back due to a sound. The person was allegedly lying face down within the river and being swept away by the present, in response to the caller.
TMZ confirmed that emergency responders searched the realm but couldn’t discover a body. As of Friday, May 29, no body had been found and the search was to be resumed.
Prior to confirmation of his death, a source near the Browns told Us Weekly that “the family is just not sure what to imagine” amid the speculation.
“They will not be sure where Matt is but they’re hoping that he’s OK and that the data is mistaken,” the insider explained on the time. “They’re all involved and talking to police and waiting to listen to. They’ve had their issues [with Matt] and Gabe has been the person most involved with him.”
Alaskan Bush People aired for 14 seasons from 2014 to 2022 on Discovery Channel. The truth series followed all the Brown family as they lived off the grid in Hoonah, Alaska. Matt appeared on the show from 2014 to 2019. He quietly left the series without an official explanation. Since his departure from reality TV, Matt has run his own YouTube channel.
Over time, Matt struggled with substance abuse. He went to rehab in 2016. After suffering a relapse, he returned from a second round of treatment two years later.
Alaskan Bush People got here to an end in 2022, one yr after the Bear family patriarch Billy Brown died age 68 after suffering a seizure. (Matt is the eldest son of Billy and Ami Brown. His siblings include Bear, Gabe, Joshua “Bam Bam” Brown, Noah Brown, Bird Brown and Rain Brown.)
For those who or someone you realize is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). For those who or someone you realize is battling substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).