Matt Brown cause of death confirmed as suicide by gunshot

Matt Brown, a star of Discovery’s ‘Alaskan Bush People,’ died by suicide from a single penetrating gunshot wound to the head, according to the Okanogan County Coroner’s Office in Washington.

Quick Facts

• Brown was 43 years old and appeared on the reality series from 2014 to 2019.
• His body was recovered from the Okanogan River near Oroville, Washington on May 30, 2026.
• Contributing circumstances included immersion in water and methamphetamine use at the time of death.
• His brother Bear Brown confirmed the death in a social media video, noting that Matt had struggled with addiction and mental health challenges for years.

Brown’s body was found after his brother Noah pulled him from the river and provided identification. An autopsy completed by the coroner’s office on June 3 confirmed the manner of death as suicide caused by the gunshot wound.

In his social media announcement, Bear Brown said he had worried Matt would overdose, not that he would harm himself. “He struggled for a long time,” Bear stated, adding that the injury appeared self-inflicted. The Brown family issued a statement acknowledging Matt’s decades-long battles with addiction and mental health, while emphasizing his intelligence, creativity, and compassion during periods of sobriety.

Sources

• Deadline — confirmed the official cause of death and autopsy details from the Okanogan County Coroner’s Office.
• People.com — reported the coroner’s confirmation and family statement regarding contributing circumstances.