Trigger Warning: This article includes discussion of suicide and self-harm.
Alaskan Bush People alum Matt Brown was seen by witnesses sitting in shallow water in the Okanogan River in Washington. His body was found after several days of searching. The cause of death indicated that he took his own life. Sources close to the situation claim that he was struggling with his mental health days before his death. Keep reading for more on the heartbreaking story.
Matt Brown’s Cause Of Death Revealed
Matt Brown was part of Discovery’s Alaskan Bush People. The eldest brother of Ami and Billy Brown became estranged from the family around 2019. He struggled with addiction issues for years and left the reality show to go to rehab. After leaving reality TV, he kept fans updated on his life and adventures in the wild on YouTube. His last video was four months ago.
A concerned witness notified the police on May 27 that they saw a man in the shallow water of the Okanogan River in Washington. The witness became concerned that the person had been swept away and was no longer in their sight. A search was called off due to the weather. Unfortunately, three days after he went missing, Matt Brown’s body was found on May 30.
Sadly, his younger brother Noah was the one to identify the body. The official cause of death was suicide. Matt Brown was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Alaskan Bush People Alum Struggling Days Before Death
Matt Brown’s disappearance sparked a lot of confusion and speculation, especially on social media. Someone posing as the Alaskan Bush People star was posting on Facebook, but the reality star only used YouTube to stay connected.
Fans initially didn’t want to believe that the Alaskan Bush People star was dead. But a source close to the reality star revealed that Matt Brown had been struggling in the days before his death. A friend of the Brown family, Clay Moore, revealed new details to Page Six about Matt’s state of mind at the time of his death.
“He couldn’t get his pickup truck running, and that was part of his frustration on that day,” the family friend said. He also shared that Matt Brown had recently gone through a difficult breakup with his girlfriend, Jamie. Finally, all of those things happening at once, mixed with alcohol, led to a tragic decision.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger