Was Matt Brown Carrying A Gun? Firearm Found Where He Was Last Seen Amid Reports Of A Floating Body

Former Alaskan Bush People star Matt Brown may already be dead, as per his brother, Bear Brown, and his family. Amid the ongoing search, one of Matt's family members reported seeing him near the Washington River just hours before reports of an unidentified man's disappearance surfaced. Could the face-down floating body be Matt's? His brother, Bear, fears so.

Matt Brown was allegedly seen near the river hours before disappearance

For those unaware, the sudden and alarming development in Matt Brown's search comes after Bear Brown publicly revealed fears that the reality TV star may have died. Amid the ongoing search, a relative now claims they saw Matt around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, near the Washington River. Based on the relative's claim, Matt's last known location was near the Driscoll Island Wildlife Area off Highway 97 in Oroville, Washington, less than a mile from where a witness later reported seeing a man swept away in the Okanogan River.

The family member allegedly told TMZ that the area is a campground and fishing spot where Matt frequently visited. They also reportedly claimed that Matt owned a firearm, a detail that has drawn additional attention to the case. Men's Journal recently reported that officials have recovered a firearm from the water near the area where Matt was last seen.

What did witnesses report?

Matt Brown's apparent disappearance comes shortly after his YouTube livestream earlier this month, where he appeared to be carrying a gun and was seen rambling. The local Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a social media statement that they were informed about a "male sitting in the shallow water of the Okanogan River" on Wednesday. Authorities said the caller briefly looked away, and when he looked back, the man was "face down in the water, drifting away in the current."

Emergency responders, including law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS personnel, launched an immediate search operation. However, no body has been recovered so far. Given the worsening weather in the area, the search operation has been difficult, and officials have stated that search efforts will continue once conditions improve.

Gabe Brown seen speaking to officials amid brother Matt Brown's disappearance

The concerns about Matt Brown's whereabouts grew after Bear Brown posted an emotional video on TikTok discussing reports he had received about his older brother. In a post dated May 28, 2026, a visibly emotional Bear shared that he and the Brown family fear that Matt may be dead, suspecting that the reality star might have committed suicide. While acknowledging that he could not independently verify the information, Bear said multiple accounts pointed toward Matt being the individual seen near the river. He said:

"I can’t confirm it’s 100% true right now, but it is what I’m hearing,” he began. “I’m being told that late last night that Matt took his own life. I can’t confirm that’s true, but witnesses say that he was seen in a river, at a river, or close to a river, and that he took his own life, and then they saw him floating in the river."

In a follow-up video, Bear defended his decision to speak publicly, explaining that there was only a "very, very small chance" the missing person was not Matt. Amid the ongoing search, TMZ reported that Matt's brother, Gabe Brown, was seen talking to the cops near the Washington River, around the area where the unidentified man was reported missing. The outlet also reported that Gabe was the only member of the estranged family who occasionally spoke to Matt, but that, too, had been rare.

In his video note, Bear also addressed long-standing speculation about Matt's relationship with the Brown family. While the family never allegedly abandoned him, despite years of struggles with alcohol, substance abuse, and personal issues, it was Matt who denied help and ultimately distanced himself. 

As of now, authorities have not recovered the missing man or confirmed his identity. The search for Matt Brown is ongoing.

Read Next: Matt Brown's Brother Addresses Reports Of Family Estrangement, Says, 'Everybody Cared About Him'

Photo credit: mattbrown511/Instagram

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