New details have emerged about the search that ended with the discovery of Alaskan Bush People star Matt Brown, as the lead volunteer who helped recover the reality TV star has spoken publicly about the emotional operation.
Matt’s death was confirmed in the early hours of Sunday, May 31, just two days after he was reported missing. The 43-year-old had disappeared on Friday, May 29, prompting an urgent search effort involving volunteers, local authorities and members of his family.
His brother, Bear Brown, shared the devastating news with fans on social media, writing that authorities had located a body in the river that was later positively identified as Matt. The announcement came after days of growing concern from both family members and longtime viewers of the Discovery Channel series.
Now, the man who led the volunteer search team has revealed what happened behind the scenes.
Speaking to The U.S. Sun, search-and-rescue volunteer Chay Wilkerson Moore said he quickly organized a team after receiving information from a witness who reported seeing a man believed to be Matt near the river. Acting on the tip, volunteers began searching the area alongside emergency responders.
Moore described the operation as emotionally difficult, explaining that everyone involved hoped for a different outcome. Instead, the search ultimately ended with the recovery of Matt’s body from the Washington river, bringing the family’s agonizing wait to an end.
The heartbreaking discovery marked the end of a desperate search that had captured widespread attention among fans of Alaskan Bush People, many of whom had been following updates from the Brown family throughout the weekend.
Matt had long been open about his struggles with alcohol addiction and his efforts to rebuild his life. Over the years, he spoke candidly about attending rehab and the challenges of maintaining sobriety, while his family also acknowledged that he had continued facing personal difficulties in recent years.
An official cause of death was not immediately released by authorities. Matt’s family has publicly shared its own beliefs about what may have happened while awaiting the outcome of the official investigation.
As tributes continue to pour in from fans around the world, Moore said the search is one he will never forget, describing it as one of the most heartbreaking recoveries he has ever been involved in. For those who followed Matt’s journey from reality TV fame through years of personal struggles, the news has marked a deeply emotional end to a life that many had hoped was still moving toward a brighter chapter.