By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-05-29 18:10:31 | Updated at 2026-06-07 20:29:34
1 week ago
A troubled former Discovery Channel reality star is feared dead after a family member revealed he was seen floating away in a river this week.
Matt Brown, 43, appeared on Alaskan Bush People with his family from 2014-2018, but was later axed from the show due to substance abuse issues.
His brother Bear tearfully revealed on Thursday that Brown had been seen by multiple witnesses in a river in Okanogan County in northern Washington state.
He now fears Brown has taken his own life after battling with drug and alcohol addiction. Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed they are investigating a report of an unidentified man being swept away by the river on Wednesday, May 27.
Bear said: 'I’m being told that late last night that Matt took his own life. I can’t confirm that that’s true but witnesses say that he was seen in a river, at a river, or close to a river.
'I would’ve never thought that Matt would’ve taken his own life, honestly.'
Former Discovery Channel reality star Matt Brown is feared dead after he was seen floating in a river by witnesses this week
Brown, who appeared on Alaskan Bush People from 2014-2018, has vanished with his family fearing he took his own life - pictured on the show
Bear said his brother had recently had a 'really bad breakup' - and that Brown had 'fallen off the wagon' recently.
'He had problems and struggles and stuff like that, but I would’ve never thought that he would take his own life.
Per a Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office press release a caller called 911 on Wednesday, May 27, to report that 'he had just spoken to a male sitting in the shallow water of the Okanogan River south of Oroville, WA.
Brown is seen on the show with a firearm
'The caller turned away from the man sitting in the river, heard a sound, turned back toward the man in the water and saw the man was face down in the water drifting away in the current.'
Law Enforcement, Fire and EMS responded to the location but were unable to locate the male in the river.
The release added, 'Additional Okanogan County Deputies responded to the location with one boat, two jet ski type watercraft and an aerial drone. Also assisting in the search was the WA Department of Fish and Wildlife with a boat.
'A firearm was recovered from the water in the area where the male was last seen.
'The search for the male continued until dark at about 8:45 PM and resumed on in the morning of 5/28/2026 with watercraft, divers and aerial drone. The search is on-going.'
Brown's brother Bear took to social media saying:'I’m being told that late last night that Matt took his own life. I can’t confirm that that’s true but witnesses say that he was seen in a river, at a river, or close to a river'
Brown was axed from the show in 2018 amid substance abuse issues, and had been struggling with alcohol and drug addiction recently
Bear said : 'I’m being told that late last night that Matt took his own life. I can’t confirm that that’s true but witnesses say that he was seen in a river, at a river, or close to a river'
The identity of the male has not been confirmed and as of Friday, May 29, the body has not been found.
The Daily Mail has contacted the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office for further comment.
A family member told TMZ they saw Brown around 8am Wednesday near Driscoll Island Wildlife Area off Highway 97 in Oroville, Washington, less than a mile from where the witness saw the man in the river.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.
