“Alaskan Bush People” Star Matt Brown Cause Of Death Revealed
on Jun 03, 2026
Reality Star Matt Brown Dies At 43
On Sunday (May 31), the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office in Washington announced that Matt Brown, of the Discovery Channel reality series Alaskan Bush People, died at the age of 43.
Matt had been missing since May 27, with the official search being suspended by law enforcement and first responders on May 30 due to severe weather.
“I never would have suspected that he would have hurt himself,” his younger brother, Bear Brown, said in a TikTok video shared on May 30. “He struggled for a long time.”
Bear shared the horrific news on social media, saying that his brother appeared to have died from injuries that were “self-inflicted.” His body was recovered from the river on Saturday (May 30) after an extensive search.
The Okanogan County Sheriff’s Department wrote that Brown’s body was found in the river by a group of private citizens who were searching for him.
“The individual was recovered and brought to shore, where he was positively identified as Matthew Brown,” the press release said. “Matthew Brown has been transferred into the custody and care of the Okanogan County Coroner. The cause and manner of death will be determined by the Coroner’s Office.”
The Brown family later issued a statement about Matt’s death. Matt, who appeared on “Alaskan Bush People” from 2014 to 2019, stepped away from the show due to struggles with addiction.
You can read their full statement below.
Matt Brown Cause Of Death Revealed
TMZ reports that according to the Okanogan County Coroner, Matt died by suicide, and the official cause of death is a “single penetrating gunshot wound to the head.”
The autopsy report also found that he was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of his death.
According to the report, “subsequent immersion in water (river)” was listed as a contributing factor. The coroner’s office said Matt’s body will be released to his family, who will make final funeral and burial arrangements.
If you or someone you know is struggling or experiencing a crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org to chat with a trained counselor 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
