Former Alaskan Bush People star Matt Brown remains at the center of an ongoing mystery as authorities continue searching the Okanogan River area in Washington following reports that an unidentified man disappeared in the water on May 27. Attention has increasingly focused on Matt’s family, particularly his brother Gabe Brown, who was reportedly seen speaking with investigators near the search site. According to family sources, Gabe was the only Brown sibling who maintained occasional contact with Matt after most of the family distanced themselves roughly five years ago due to concerns about his alleged substance abuse struggles. Sources claim the separation was a difficult decision led by late patriarch Billy Brown, although Matt’s mother, Ami Brown, reportedly resisted cutting ties with her eldest son. The family’s strained relationship has become a key part of the story as investigators attempt to piece together Matt’s final movements and identify who may have been in contact with him before he vanished.

Just days before the disappearance, Matt appeared in YouTube livestreams from Oroville, Washington, where he spoke openly about beginning a new recovery effort following a relapse. In one video, he described taking “baby steps,” repairing his truck, attending meetings, and trying to rebuild his life. However, another livestream reportedly showed him in a far more troubled state. On May 27, a family member reportedly spotted Matt near the Okanogan River hours before a witness later reported seeing a man drift face-down in the current. Search crews responded immediately and later recovered a firearm from the area, though authorities have not confirmed the identity of the missing man. Matt’s brother Bear Brown publicly shared his fear that the missing individual could be Matt, citing witness accounts and recent struggles involving addiction and a painful breakup. As of now, officials have not confirmed the man’s identity, and the search remains ongoing while Matt Brown’s whereabouts remain unknown.