Key facts
- Okanogan County coroner's office confirmed Matt Brown died by suicide.
- Contributing circumstances included immersion in water and methamphetamine use.
- Brown was found dead in a Washington state river.
- A firearm was reportedly recovered from the area where the man was last seen.
- Brown starred on 'Alaskan Bush People' from 2014 to 2019.
The Okanogan County coroner's office has confirmed that 'Alaskan Bush People' star Matt Brown died by suicide. According to People, contributing circumstances cited were 'subsequent immersion in water' and 'under the influence of methamphetamine.' Brown was 42 years old. His brother, Bear Brown, announced Matt's death on TikTok on Saturday, stating that authorities had recovered a body from a Washington state river. Bear confirmed that their brother Noah identified Matt's body. Bear expressed surprise, stating he worried about an overdose but not self-harm, though he acknowledged Matt had struggled for a long time. Deputies responded to a 911 call on Wednesday from a witness who saw a man in a shallow section of the river. The caller later reported hearing a sound and finding the man face down in the water before he was swept away. A firearm was reportedly recovered from the area. The Brown family released a statement on Sunday mourning the loss of Matthew Brown, describing him as intelligent, creative, and a gifted outdoorsman. They noted his struggles with addiction and mental health, and his efforts to encourage others to seek help. The statement also mentioned their father, Billy Brown, never stopped believing in Matt's ability to heal. Matt Brown starred on 'Alaskan Bush People' from 2014 to 2019, stepping away during his struggles with addiction.