Matt Brown Oroville, Washington: Feared dead after Okanogan River incident as search continues
Matt Brown, known from the reality series Alaskan Bush People, is feared dead after a reported incident in the Okanogan River area in Washington state.
Authorities say the situation began after a 911 call on Wednesday reporting a man seen sitting in shallow water south of Oroville.
The caller reported looking away briefly before hearing a sound and then seeing the man face down in the river, being carried downstream by the current.
Emergency teams, including law enforcement, firefighters, and medical personnel, rushed to the scene and began a search along the river corridor.
Despite extensive efforts, no body was recovered, and officials said the search was paused due to worsening conditions.
Family members later expressed concern publicly, with Brown’s brother sharing a video online suggesting fears that Matt may have taken his own life.
In that message, it was also mentioned that witnesses claimed to have seen Matt near the river earlier and later in the water, though this has not been independently confirmed.
Authorities have not made a positive identification as of the latest update, and the investigation remains open.
The incident comes shortly after a video surfaced online reportedly showing Brown in an intoxicated state, wandering unclothed in a public park while appearing to carry a firearm.
Family members have previously said they had limited contact with him in recent years due to concerns about erratic behavior.
Alaskan Bush People, the series that made the Brown family widely known, ran for 14 seasons and ended in 2022.
Search operations are expected to resume when conditions improve along the Okanogan River.
The community around Oroville, near the Canadian border, remains on alert as authorities continue to piece together what happened along the river.
