HIGHLIGHTS:

• Matt Brown, the eldest son of the late Billy Brown and star of Discovery’s Alaskan Bush People from 2014 to 2019, was found dead in the Okanogan River in Washington state on Saturday, May 30 – three days after he was reported missing

• The Brown family issued an emotional statement saying Matt ‘was deeply loved’ and ‘will be missed beyond words’ – while acknowledging his ‘many years battling serious mental health challenges and addiction’ 

• Brother Noah Brown revealed their final exchange in a grocery store ‘probably two or three weeks’ before Matt’s death – telling Us Weekly exclusively: ‘Okay, love you more, man’ 

• Police discovered a firearm near where Matt was last seen, with the body showing a gunshot wound – brother Bear Brown confirmed the family believes the injury was ‘self-inflicted’ 

WASHINGTON STATE – The family of Matt Brown , one of the original stars of Discovery Channel’s hit reality series Alaskan Bush People, has broken their silence following the 43-year-old’s tragic death.

His body was pulled from the Okanogan River in Washington state on Saturday, May 30 – three days after he was reported missing by a 911 caller who saw a man sitting in shallow water before he was swept away by the current .

Now, his siblings are speaking out about the loss of their brother.

And their final words to him will break your heart.

‘LOVE YOU MORE, MAN’: NOAH’S LAST CONVERSATION

Noah Brown, Matt’s younger brother who also starred on Alaskan Bush People, sat down with Us Weekly for an exclusive interview revealing the last real conversation he shared with Matt .

It happened ‘probably two or three weeks’ before Matt’s death – completely by chance.

‘I ran into him in the grocery store,’ Noah told Us Weekly. ‘The last thing I said to him was, “Okay, love you more, man,” which was our thing.’

He reflected on the importance of never leaving words unsaid.

‘You never know when the last time you’re going to see someone is, so [our family] always [says] how you feel right before you say goodbye, because it could be the last thing,’ Noah said .

‘Then that was it.’

Noah admitted there was ‘a distance’ between them in recent years.

‘In the later years, I realized it was best to just kind of let him do his own thing,’ he explained. ‘The stress of a large family gets to some people, and it’s just one of those things. Just let’s let him live his life.’

But he made clear there was no animosity.

‘We were good, we just kept our distance. … I’m very, very thankful for that.’

Still, regret lingers.

‘I do wish, though, that there could have been more. You always wish that you could have done more, no matter how much it was that you were doing.’ 

‘HE STRUGGLED FOR A LONG TIME’: BEAR BREAKS DOWN

Matt’s body was discovered by a group of private citizens who had been searching the river.

Noah was among them.

‘Myself and the rest of the people that were looking hauled a skiff up further on the shore, and that’s where it was,’ Noah told Us Weekly .

‘He was lost in the river. And we found him.’

Bear Brown, another brother, broke the news on TikTok on Saturday, visibly emotional.

‘They found a body in the river a few hours ago and it was positively identified as being Matt,’ Bear said .

‘Noah helped them pull the body out of the water. Noah identified him.’

Bear revealed that Matt had been struggling for years.

‘He struggled for a long time, as I’ve mentioned. I was so worried he was gonna end up OD’d or something like that. I didn’t think that he would hurt himself,’ Bear said .

‘It does look as though the injury is self-inflicted.’

FIREARM AND GUNSHOT WOUND DISCOVERED

According to reports, law enforcement found a firearm near the location where Matt was last seen.

The body showed a gunshot wound .

The Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a 911 caller initially reported seeing a man sitting in a shallow section of the Okanogan River on May 27.

The caller then heard a noise and saw the man lying face-down in the water before he was swept away by the current .

Hazardous river conditions initially forced responders to suspend search operations after rainfall caused water levels to rise and currents to strengthen .

‘WITH BROKEN HEARTS’: THE FAMILY’S OFFICIAL STATEMENT

On Sunday, May 31, the Brown family issued a formal statement shared exclusively with Us Weekly .

‘It is with profound sadness and broken hearts that we share the loss of our beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend, Matthew Brown,’ the statement began.

‘To millions of viewers, Matt was known as one of the original stars of Alaskan Bush People. To us, he was so much more.’

The family painted a picture of a man who was endlessly curious and creative.

‘Matt was intelligent, curious, creative, and endlessly fascinated by the world around him. He was a gifted outdoorsman who felt most at home on the water, in the wilderness, or sharing what he had learned with others,’ they wrote .

‘He taught himself sign language, studied Egyptian hieroglyphs, petroglyphs, and Sanskrit, learned conversational Spanish, and could spend hours mastering a new skill simply for the joy of understanding it.’

They also acknowledged that Matt ‘spent many years battling serious mental health challenges and addiction.’

‘These were complex struggles that affected every aspect of his life. Like countless families facing similar circumstances, we experienced periods of hope, recovery, setbacks, heartbreak, reconciliation, and renewed hope again.’ 

‘OUR DAD NEVER STOPPED BELIEVING IN HIM’

The family’s statement revealed that their late father, Billy Brown , who died in 2021 at age 68, never lost faith in Matt.

‘Our dad, Billy Brown, never stopped believing in Matt’s ability to heal and find peace,’ the family wrote .

‘Throughout the years, there were rehabilitation programs, interventions, treatment efforts, and countless attempts to support his recovery. Those efforts continued long after our father’s passing.’

They added that in recent months, as Matt ‘publicly shared his pain and struggles,’ family members ‘were actively trying to reconnect, offer support, and help him find his way back to stability and healing’ .

‘WE WILL REMEMBER THE YOUNG MAN WHO COULD NAVIGATE ROUGH WATERS’

The family concluded their statement with a powerful plea for compassion.

‘If there is one message we hope people take from Matt’s life, it is that no one should have to suffer alone. If you are struggling with addiction, depression, or hopelessness, please reach out. Talk to someone. Ask for help. There is strength in seeking support, and there is always hope.’

‘Matthew’s life cannot be measured solely by how it ended. It should be measured by the people he encouraged, the adventures he lived, the knowledge he pursued, the beauty he created, and the love he shared with those around him.’

‘When we think of Matt, we will remember the young man who could navigate rough waters, draw for hours, lose himself in learning ancient symbols, make us laugh unexpectedly, and dream bigger than most people ever dare. He was imperfect. He was human. He was deeply loved. And he will be missed beyond words.’ 

A LIFE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Matt appeared on Alaskan Bush People from its premiere in 2014 until 2019, when he stepped away amid his public struggles with addiction .

The show, which aired for 14 seasons before concluding in 2022 following Billy Brown’s death, documented the family’s off-grid existence in the Alaskan wilderness .

Matt is survived by his mother Ami Brown and his siblings Bear, Gabe, Noah, Joshua ‘Bam Bam,’ Bird and Rain .

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If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health issues, help is available. Call or text 988 (in the US) to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for confidential, free support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Source: Compiled from various sources