Alaskan Bush People’s Matt Brown Dies at 42

Matt Brown, 42, the eldest son from Discovery’s Alaskan Bush People, was identified after a body was found in a Washington river. His brother, Solomon Isaiah “Bear” Brown, shared that the family was told the death appears to be self-inflicted, while Matt’s bro

Matt Brown was missing for days, and the worry kept building—until a body found in a Washington river was identified as the Alaskan Bush People star.

Solomon Isaiah “Bear” Brown, Matt’s brother, shared the devastating update with followers on social media on Saturday. In his message, Bear described how the family had been anxiously waiting for answers after reports circulated that Matt had been seen near the river in Washington.

“Bear” wrote that the body was discovered just a few hours earlier and was “positively identified as being Matt.” Then he added the part no family ever wants to say: what Bear said he was told was apparently Matt’s death by suicide.

“I would have never suspected he would have hurt himself, honestly,” Bear wrote, explaining that Matt had “struggled for a long time.” Bear said he feared different outcomes—“worried he was going to end up, like, OD’d or something like that”—and that he “didn’t think he would hurt himself.”

Bear also said the family had been told the injury appeared to be self-inflicted. “Obviously, the coroner and stuff still has to look at him,” he said, while telling followers it “does look as though the injury is self-inflicted.”

The update carried another painful detail about who was closest to the moment authorities arrived. Bear revealed that brother Noah Brown was reportedly present at the scene and helped with the recovery from the water and with identification.

The news comes days after Bear posted an emotional video describing the uncertainty the family had been facing. At the time. he said he had heard reports involving Matt but couldn’t independently confirm them—an uncertainty Bear said seemed to weigh heavily on him as he spoke directly to fans who were searching for answers.

Those worries unfolded against a backdrop of Matt Brown’s long public struggle with addiction. During and after his time on Alaskan Bush People. he spoke openly about alcohol abuse and his efforts to get treatment. including work toward recovery. For many viewers. he first came into focus through the show’s unconventional off-grid life. but later he became known for sharing his recovery journey candidly with his online audience.

Matt stepped away from Discovery’s series in 2019 and lived largely outside the spotlight afterward, while still posting regularly for his dedicated followers. Over time, he built a sizable audience on YouTube, with thousands of supporters checking in on his progress.

He was the eldest child of Ami Brown and the late Billy Brown, who died in 2021, per People. Matt appeared prominently during the early years of Alaskan Bush People and helped introduce audiences to the Brown family’s unique way of life.

The sequence of events—reports of Matt near a Washington river. witnesses’ accounts leading to a search. and then the identification that arrived with the weight of a suicide determination—left the family with answers that still brought heartbreak. The coroner’s review is still part of the process. but Bear’s message made clear how quickly the search ended and how permanently that confirmation has changed everything.

Our thoughts are with everyone who knew and loved Matt during this incredibly difficult time.

Matt Brown Solomon Isaiah Bear Brown Alaskan Bush People Discovery Noah Brown Ami Brown Billy Brown Washington river suicide