Matt Brown death: What happened to ‘Alaskan Bush People’ star? Chilling details emerge as cause revealed
The official cause of death of former “Alaskan Bush People” star Matt Brown has been revealed days after the reality TV personality was found dead in Washington state.
According to Fox News Digital, the Okanogan County coroner’s office confirmed that Brown died by suicide. Officials also listed “subsequent immersion in water” and being “under the influence of methamphetamine” as contributing circumstances in the 42-year-old’s death.
Brown’s body was recovered from a Washington river after authorities responded to reports from a witness near the area.
The Discovery Channel personality appeared on “Alaskan Bush People” from 2014 to 2019 before stepping away from the series amid ongoing struggles with addiction.
Witness reported disturbing scene near river
Page Six reported Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called after a witness noted seeing a man sitting in a shallow section of the river.
The caller later allegedly heard a sound and then saw the man face down in the water before he was swept away by the current.
A firearm was reportedly recovered near the area where the man was last seen, according to the report.
Brown’s brother, Bear Brown, confirmed the death in a social media video over the weekend. “They found a body in the river a few hours ago, and it was positively identified as being Matt,” Bear said in comments quoted by Fox News.
Bear also revealed that another sibling, Noah Brown, helped identify Matt’s body.
Matt Brown’s battle with addiction
In an emotional statement released Sunday, the Brown family remembered Matt as an adventurous and compassionate person who spent years battling addiction and mental health challenges.
“Matt was intelligent, curious, creative, and endlessly fascinated by the world around him,” the family said in a statement.
The statement also highlighted Brown’s efforts to help others during periods of recovery. “During periods of sobriety and recovery, he openly shared his struggles with addiction and mental health,” the family added, noting that he encouraged others to seek help.
Bear Brown admitted he had feared his brother could overdose one day but said he never expected him to “hurt himself.”
Matt Brown was one of the original stars of “Alaskan Bush People,” a reality television series following the Brown family’s off-grid lifestyle in Alaska and later Washington.