Matt Brown, former star of “Alaskan Bush People,” was found dead in a Washington river Saturday. A private search party discovered his body in the Okanogan River following days of searching after he was reported to have taken his own life. His brother Bear confirmed the death hours later.
The private search party consisted of local citizens who took matters into their own hands after official efforts stalled. The Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office announced the discovery, and Brown’s body is now with the county coroner for cause and manner of death determination. The group found what authorities could not.
Emergency dispatch audio revealed the initial report: a suicidal man had allegedly shot himself before falling into the river and being swept away by the current. Search teams found his backpack with an empty holster. His revolver is believed to still be in the water. A dive team, sonar equipment, and a cadaver dog were deployed, but difficult weather and dangerous river conditions suspended the official search.
Matt had become nearly completely estranged from his family in recent years. In one of his final livestreams, he appeared nude and allegedly intoxicated while wandering through a Washington public park. The stream grew more alarming when he appeared to be carrying a firearm. Fans who once watched him build cabins in Alaska watched helplessly as his life unraveled.
Matt stepped away from “Alaskan Bush People” in 2019 to enter a treatment facility. He later relocated to rural northeastern Washington, living a quieter life aside from videos documenting his daily whereabouts. His brother Bear said he never imagined Matt would hurt himself. The Brown family has not released an official statement.
