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Authorities announced on Saturday, May 30, that they were suspending the search for a man in the Okanogan River in Washington state, believed to be the star TV show "Alaskan Wilderness"« Matt Brown.
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Sheriffs said the decision was made because of "dangerous" river conditions and to "focus search efforts.".
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This comes after Matt's brother, Bear Brown, posted a video in which he claimed witnesses told him they saw Matt "take his own life" and that he was "seen in, by, or near the river.".
Authorities have suspended the search for the remains of a man believed to be the star in a river in Washington state. TV show "Alaskan Wilderness"« Matt Brown.
In a press release issued Saturday, May 30, the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) announced it had suspended its search for the remains of a man "who reported dying in the Okanogan River.".
According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the search for the man's body continued until Friday, May 29. Police officers and a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) agent used boats, jet skis, sonar, and divers to search an "expanding area" near where the man was last seen.
A Spokane-based sniffer dog trained to detect human remains was also dispatched to the scene. Authorities also used river bottom combing equipment as part of the search operation.
«"The male was not found; no trace of him was found," the Orange County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.
Authorities said the river's condition had been "worsening" throughout the day, partly due to rainfall overnight that had increased water levels and flow speeds, hampering search efforts.
«"The active river current increases the likelihood that the male is not still in the area where he was last seen," the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.
Matt Brown Photo: Matt Brown/Instagram
The sheriff's office said the search was suspended due to "dangerous" river conditions and so deputies could gather more information and "focus search efforts.".
The Orange County Sheriff's Office said the man's identity is "undetermined" and will not be released until his family is notified.
PEOPLE has reached out to the Orange County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) for comment.
The sheriff's office told TMZ that it launched an investigation after a 911 call reported a man sitting in shallow water near the river before being swept away by the current. Authorities told the publication that the search is expected to resume once weather conditions improve.
The announcement from the sheriff's office came after Matt's brother, Bear Brown, posted a video on TikTok saying he was "told late last night that Matt had taken his own life" and "witnesses say he was seen in, near, or near the river.".
According to Bear, witnesses then contacted authorities. "They haven't been able to find the body yet," Bear said, adding that authorities are continuing the search. "I can't confirm that on 100%, but it appears to be the case.".
Matt Brown Photo: Matt Brown/Instagram
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Earlier this month, Matt gained attention for a livestream that caused concern among viewers. In the video, published on May 10, he revealed that he spent the night in a cemetery because he couldn't find another safe place.
Matt had previously spoken publicly about his struggles with alcohol addiction. He left the show in 2019. «Alaskan Wilderness» and went for treatment.
Matt is the eldest son of the late Billy and Ami Brown. He appeared on the Discovery Channel reality show during its early seasons. Premiere «Alaskan Wilderness» It premiered in 2014 and last aired in 2022.
If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health issues, emotional stress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat on the website 988lifeline.org 24/7, 7 days a week.
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