Matt Brown, the eldest son featured on Discovery Channel’s Alaskan Bush People, has died at the age of 43 after his body was recovered from a river in Washington state on Saturday, May 30, 2026.
The heartbreaking news was confirmed by his brother Solomon Isaiah “Bear” Brown, who shared an emotional video statement following days of concern surrounding Matt’s disappearance.
Matt had reportedly been missing since Wednesday, May 28, after witnesses claimed they saw a man matching his description floating in the river. Authorities launched a search operation before eventually recovering a body that was later positively identified as the former reality star.
In his public statement, Bear said the family believes Matt’s death may have been self-inflicted, though officials are still awaiting final confirmation from the coroner.
“It does look as though the injury is self-inflicted,” Bear said. “Obviously, the coroner and stuff still has to look at him.”
Bear also opened up about Matt’s long and difficult battle with substance abuse, admitting the family had worried for years about the possibility of losing him to addiction.
According to Bear, Matt had become increasingly distant from relatives in recent years while continuing to struggle personally.
Their father, Billy Brown, revealed that he had not spoken to Matt in nearly two years before his death.
“He was gone for two years. I did not see him. I did not talk to him. Nothing,” Billy said emotionally.
The Brown family has since asked the public for compassion and privacy as they grieve the devastating loss. Bear specifically urged people online to remain respectful toward their mother, Ami Brown, during the difficult period.
Matt Brown became a familiar face to viewers after appearing in nearly 80 episodes of Alaskan Bush People following the show’s 2014 debut on Discovery Channel.
The reality series documented the Brown family’s unconventional off-grid lifestyle in the wilderness of Alaska before later relocating to Washington state.
Over the years, Matt’s struggles with addiction were publicly addressed on the series. Billy Brown previously spoke about his son’s decision to seek treatment.
“It was Matt’s decision to drop everything and go fix what he hadn’t fixed,” Billy once said.
Matt first entered rehab in 2016 before later returning for a second round of treatment after suffering a relapse two years later.
Despite his personal struggles, Matt remained deeply connected to the show’s audience, and fans have flooded social media with emotional tributes and condolences for the grieving family.
The confirmation of his death came shortly after authorities temporarily suspended search efforts because of dangerous river conditions.
More than 200 comments quickly appeared beneath Bear’s announcement video, with supporters expressing heartbreak over the tragedy.
“So sorry for your loss, love and prayers to you and your family,” one fan wrote, while many others praised Bear for his strength in publicly sharing the devastating news.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. In the United States, contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. In the UK, Samaritans offers 24-hour confidential support at 116 123.
Source: ibtimes
