TLDR: Matt Brown, the eldest of Billy and Ami Brown’s seven children on Alaskan Bush People, died on May 30, 2026, at age 43. He was found in Washington’s Okanogan River after a multi-day search.
The Okanogan County Coroner’s Office ruled the death a suicide, with methamphetamine use and immersion in water listed as contributing circumstances. He had struggled with addiction for years and had been estranged from much of the family since leaving the show in 2019.
Matt Brown was the oldest of the Brown siblings on Alaskan Bush People and one of the most recognizable faces of the show’s early seasons. He appeared for the first eight seasons, from 2014 to 2019, before stepping away from the family and the production entirely.
Why Matt Left the Show
Matt struggled with alcohol addiction for years before he stepped away. In 2016 he checked himself into the Betty Ford Center, telling People magazine at the time that he had been afraid to tell his family because he felt ashamed of being weak, but that their support once he did was unbelievable.
He returned to treatment for alcohol abuse again in 2018.
Around the same period, two women came forward with sexual assault accusations against him. The distance between Matt and the rest of the family grew significantly afterward.
He also made public claims that the production team had supplied drugs to him and his family, accusations Discovery never publicly addressed, and that the show’s off-grid premise was not entirely accurate, since the family used a generator and had occasional access to electricity and television.
Life After the Show
Matt spent his years after the show living independently, eventually settling in Loomis, Washington, where he worked on a local farm tending orchards. He was open about his recovery on social media, sharing a sobriety chip in 2021 marking one year clean.
He also ran a YouTube channel focused on self-growth and recovery, describing his desire to live a quiet, free life on his own terms.
His relationship with the family remained complicated for most of this period. Bear Brown said in past interviews that he did not see Matt much and hoped he would find peace. When their father Billy Brown died in 2021, Matt said in an Instagram post that he was glad he had been able to reconcile with him before his death, though Matt was notably absent from the family’s public mourning.
His Death in May 2026
On May 28, 2026, a witness called authorities after seeing a man in the Okanogan River near Oroville, Washington, who appeared to go under and not resurface.
A multi-day search followed, involving search dogs, watercraft, sonar, and divers, with search and rescue teams coordinating from as far away as Montana and Wyoming. A firearm was recovered from the water near where the man was last seen.
Matt’s body was recovered on May 30, 2026, and positively identified by the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office. His brother Noah was on site and identified him for authorities.
Bear announced the death to fans, saying he had not expected Matt to hurt himself despite knowing he had struggled for a long time, and asked followers to be respectful toward the family in their comments.
The Okanogan County Coroner’s Office later confirmed the cause of death as a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, ruled a suicide, with methamphetamine use and immersion in water listed as contributing circumstances. Matt Brown was 43 years old.
How His Family Remembered Him
The Brown family released a statement to Us Weekly describing Matt as intelligent, curious, creative, and endlessly fascinated by the world around him.
They called him a gifted outdoorsman who felt most at home on the water or in the wilderness, and noted he had served as the radar operator on the family’s vessels and was an accomplished fisherman and boatman.
The family acknowledged the difficulty of his later years directly, saying his life included mistakes and painful chapters that they did not minimize, while also saying they did not believe any person’s life should be defined solely by their lowest moments.
They described him as compassionate, generous with his time, and someone who deeply wanted to help others.
Matt is survived by his parents’ memory, his six siblings Bear, Noah, Joshua, Gabe, Snowbird, and Rain, and the extended Brown family that watched him grow up on screen before losing touch with him for years and finding their way back to remembering who he was before any of it became complicated.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day by calling or texting 988.
How did Matt Brown from Alaskan Bush People die?
Matt Brown died on May 30, 2026, after being found in Washington’s Okanogan River near Oroville. The Okanogan County Coroner’s Office ruled the death a suicide, with the cause listed as a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Methamphetamine use and immersion in water were listed as contributing circumstances. A multi-day search involving search dogs, watercraft, and divers preceded the recovery of his body. He was 43 years old.
Why did Matt Brown leave Alaskan Bush People?
Matt Brown appeared on Alaskan Bush People for the first eight seasons, from 2014 to 2019, before stepping away. He struggled with alcohol addiction for years, seeking treatment at the Betty Ford Center in 2016 and returning to treatment in 2018. Around the same period, two women came forward with sexual assault accusations against him, and the distance between Matt and the rest of the family grew substantially. He also made public claims that the production team had supplied drugs to the family.
Was Matt Brown estranged from his family when he died?
Matt Brown’s relationship with the Brown family had been complicated and distant for several years following his departure from the show in 2019. He did reconcile to some degree with his father Billy Brown before Billy’s death in 2021. Following Matt’s own death in 2026, the family released a statement describing him warmly as intelligent, creative, and a gifted outdoorsman, acknowledging the difficulties of his later years while emphasizing that his life should not be defined solely by his struggles.
What did Matt Brown do after leaving Alaskan Bush People?
After leaving the show in 2019, Matt Brown lived independently, eventually settling in Loomis, Washington, where he worked on a local farm tending orchards. He was open about his recovery journey on social media and ran a YouTube channel focused on self-growth and recovery. He shared a sobriety milestone in 2021 marking one year clean from alcohol.
