The Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office has suspended the search for a man believed to be Matt Brown, the 43-year-old former star of the Discovery Channel series Alaskan Bush People. Authorities halted operations in Washington’s Okanogan River on Saturday, citing dangerous water levels and currents that have rendered the area impassable for recovery teams.
A Tragic Disappearance in the Okanogan River
The search began after a 911 caller reported seeing a man sitting in shallow water along the Okanogan River, south of Oroville, on Wednesday. According to the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office, the witness looked away momentarily, only to turn back and see the individual face down in the water before he was swept away by the current. While authorities have not officially confirmed the identity of the missing person, the circumstances have led to widespread concern regarding the reality television star.
A relative of Brown reported seeing him near the Driscoll Island Wildlife Area, off Highway 97, around 8 a.m. Wednesday—a location known to be a frequent fishing spot for the former reality personality. This sighting occurred only hours before police initiated their search efforts. Despite the deployment of divers, cadaver dogs, and personnel from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the river’s rapid movement and high water levels hampered visibility and safety, forcing the eventual suspension of the mission.
Brother Bear Brown Shares Family Fears
The public uncertainty surrounding the incident began on Thursday, when Bear Brown took to TikTok to address the reports. In a tearful video, he informed fans that he had received news his brother had likely died by suicide, though he emphasized that he could not confirm the account with total certainty. Bear noted that he was told witnesses had observed someone matching Matt’s description “floating down the river.”
“I wanted to start out by saying that I can’t confirm that it’s a hundred percent true right now, but it is what I’m hearing. So I’m being told that late last night that Matt took his own life. … Witnesses say that he was seen in a river, at a river, or close to a river, and that he took his own life, and that they saw him floating down the river.”
Bear Brown, brother of Matt Brown, via TV Insider
In a subsequent video update, Bear stated that the person spotted at the river was “99 percent” likely to be his brother. He also cautioned viewers against spreading negativity and clarified that recent social media posts attributed to Matt were not authentic, as the family had been largely estranged from the 43-year-old for several years.
Struggles With Substance Abuse and Estrangement
Matt Brown’s history of substance abuse has been a well-documented aspect of his life, both on and off the screen. Bear shared that his brother had struggled with drugs and alcohol for a significant period and had chosen to distance himself from the family. Despite this estrangement, Bear recalled a recent, brief encounter with his brother at a Walmart before leaving for Florida, which he described as their final meeting.
Bear also detailed a recent phone conversation with Matt, during which he attempted to encourage his brother to seek help after an apparent relapse. “And he called me after that, and he said that he had fallen off the wagon, and I was like, ‘Well, get back on it, man. You know, everybody falls off. Just get back on it. Go to rehab if you’ve got to. You’ve got this. You’ve fought it a lot before and all,’” Bear said.
Adding to the personal turmoil, Bear revealed that his brother had recently gone through “a really bad breakup” with a “girl that he really liked,” though he maintained that he had no prior indication that Matt was suicidal. He concluded his message by asking fans to refrain from attacking their mother, Ami Brown, noting that she has consistently cared for Matt despite the hardships the family has faced.
Search Status and Future Outlook
As of Saturday, the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office has officially ceased active search operations. Officials stated that they do not expect to locate anyone in that specific stretch of the river due to the intensity of the currents. The department is now looking for any additional information that might help narrow down a search area should conditions stabilize, though they have not provided a timeline for when or if operations might resume.
The situation remains a developing one, marked by the intersection of family grief and official police investigations. For those facing similar struggles, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline remains available by dialing 988. As the community waits for further word from authorities, the focus remains on the dangerous environmental conditions that have made the Okanogan River a site of tragedy.
