Alaskan Bush People star Matt Brown’s stepsister is speaking out after his death.
“I want to pay tribute to my little brother and his life but the self serving feeling is a bit much for me,” Twila Byars wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, June 2. “So this will be the last of them for now. Rest in Peace little Brother.”
After reports that Matt had gone missing, his brother Bear Brown confirmed on Saturday, May 30, that the reality star died at age 43.
“On Saturday, May 30, 2026, a group of private citizens conducting a search along the Okanogan River located a deceased individual in the river,” a Sunday, May 31, updated press release shared by Washington state’s Okanogan County Sheriff Office’s official Facebook account read, in part. “The individual was recovered and brought to shore, where he was positively identified as Matthew Brown.”
Matt’s family shared an emotional statement with Us Weekly one day later.
“It is with profound sadness and broken hearts that we share the loss of our beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend, Matthew Brown,” a statement from the family shared exclusively with Us on Sunday, May 31 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 continued, “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. He was an accomplished fisherman, an experienced boatman, and served as the radar operator on our family’s vessels. He loved adventure and never stopped exploring new ideas.”
The family shared that Matt had an “extraordinary mind,” recalling how he taught himself languages and mastered new skills.
“Those who truly knew Matt knew his heart. He was compassionate, generous with his time, and deeply wanted to help others.” the family continued, in part. “During periods of sobriety and recovery, he openly shared his struggles with addiction and mental health through his online videos and personal outreach. He encouraged others to seek help, offered hope to people fighting similar battles, and used his own experiences in an effort to make others feel less alone.”’
An official cause of death has not been shared. Bear, however, speculated that Matt’s death was “self-inflicted.”
“I was so worried that he would end up ODed or something like that,” he said in a Saturday social media upload. “I didn’t think he would hurt himself.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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