HIGHLIGHTS:

• Matt Brown, 43, who starred on 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

• Brother Noah Brown revealed their final conversation happened just weeks before Matt’s death, telling Us Weekly exclusively: ‘The last thing I said to him was “Okay, love you more, man”‘

• 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’

• 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 Brown family is mourning the loss of one of their own.

Matt Brown , the eldest son of the late Billy Brown and a familiar face to millions of Alaskan Bush People viewers, was found dead in the Okanogan River on Saturday, May 30.

He was 43 years old.

Now, his siblings are speaking out about the brother they lost – and the final words they exchanged.

‘LOVE YOU MORE, MAN’

Noah Brown sat down with Us Weekly for an exclusive interview, revealing the last real conversation he shared with Matt.

It happened by chance, just weeks before Matt’s death.

‘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.’

Noah reflected on how that simple phrase now carries devastating weight.

‘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,’ he said.

‘Then that was it.’

Noah admitted there had been 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.’

But he made clear there was no bad blood.

‘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’

Matt had been reported missing on Wednesday, May 27, after a 911 caller reported seeing a man sitting in shallow water before he was swept away by the current.

Hazardous river conditions initially forced responders to suspend search operations.

On Saturday, a group of private citizens searching the river discovered Matt’s body.

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, 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 – but the manner of his death still came as a shock.

‘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.’

Law enforcement found a firearm near where Matt was last seen. The body showed a gunshot wound.

‘WITH BROKEN HEARTS’: THE FAMILY’S 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 deeply curious, creative man.

‘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.’

The family also acknowledged Matt’s long battle with mental health and addiction.

‘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.’

‘HE WAS IMPERFECT. HE WAS HUMAN. HE WAS DEEPLY LOVED.’

The family concluded their statement with a powerful plea for compassion – and a reminder of who Matt really was.

‘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.’

Then came the words that have moved millions.

‘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.

Source: Compiled from various sources