Matt Brown’s – The body of Alaskan Bush People star Matt Brown was recovered from Washington’s Okanogan River after kayakers spotted his brown jacket in fast-moving, muddy water about two miles south of where he was last seen alive. A longtime private search leader says the
For the private search team, the moment they spotted Matt Brown’s jacket didn’t feel like luck—it felt like a break in an impossible search.
Chay Wilkerson Moore. who led the volunteer effort that recovered Brown’s body from the Okanogan River in Washington state. said kayakers were able to see Brown’s brown jacket in the fast-moving. muddy water on Saturday. Moore placed the discovery about 2 miles south from where Brown was last seen alive.
Moore said the kayakers had to search the riverbank inch by inch because Brown’s clothing blended into the murky water and surrounding scenery. He also pointed to the fact that Brown was in a remote area that wasn’t easily accessible by law enforcement.
Once Brown was located, Moore said rescuers had to be extra careful getting him out of the water. He added that a local resident with a small fishing boat played a key role in the recovery efforts.
Brown had vanished last week after being seen near the Okanogan River. Moore said the search efforts came after a bystander alerted authorities of what was believed to be a suicidal man—presumably Brown—who shot himself before being swept away by the strong river current. Even before the body was found, Brown’s family feared he was dead.
Despite his reality TV fame, Moore said he was surprised by how few people reached out to join him. He said those who did volunteer loved Brown deeply.
Family sources previously told MISRYOUM that Brown’s family cut him off several years ago because they could no longer support him amid ongoing addiction struggles. Moore said Brown’s younger brother Noah contacted him and was ultimately the person who identified the body.
Saturday evening, Brown’s other brother Bear confirmed that Matt took his own life. Bear was clearly shaken by the news despite being estranged.
Matt Brown was 43.
RIP
Alaskan Bush People Matt Brown Okanogan River Chay Wilkerson Moore Noah Brown Bear Brown kayakers private search recovery