Alaskan Bush People Star Noah Brown Emotionally Confirms He Identified Brother Matt’s Body

Noah Brown, known for his role on Alaskan Bush People, said he personally identified the body of his brother Matt Brown after it was recovered from a Washington river. In an Instagram video posted Saturday, Noah said he had been working with search teams to locate Matt and was present when his body was pulled from the river at 3:27 p.m. He said he later helped bring the body up from the riverbank and then confirmed the identity with authorities.

Noah said Matt’s ID and Social Security card were found on him and that he was able to visually verify that the body was his older brother Matthew Brown. He told viewers that the family would learn more after the coroner’s report is completed and thanked local searchers and others who helped in the effort. Emotional during the video, Noah said he did not know what else to say and urged people to tell loved ones they care about them while they still can.

Bear Brown, another brother, also addressed Matt’s death in a TikTok video Saturday, saying he believed Matt died by suicide. Bear said the circumstances appeared self-inflicted, though he noted that the coroner would make the final determination. He described Matt as someone who had long struggled with alcohol and drug use, while also saying the family had not rejected him. According to Bear, Matt had distanced himself from the family and had not wanted involvement with them.

Bear said the last time he saw Matt was during a recent encounter at Walmart, where Matt reportedly said he had “fallen off the wagon.” Bear said he encouraged him to seek rehab, but added that he never expected Matt to take his own life. The brothers’ comments followed public concern over Matt’s recent behavior, including an alarming YouTube livestream earlier this month in which he appeared nude, rambled incoherently, and seemed to be carrying a gun.

Matt Brown was the eldest of the seven Brown siblings and appeared on the Discovery Channel reality series from 2014 to 2019. The show followed the Brown family, including parents Billy and Ami Brown, as they lived off the grid in the wilderness. Billy Brown died in 2021 at age 68.

Noah’s video ended with a message of grief, gratitude, and caution, as he reflected on the family’s loss and the painful circumstances surrounding Matt’s death. A crisis resource note was also included with the story, directing anyone affected by suicide-related issues to call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.