[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
New details are emerging about the difficult period Matt Brown was reportedly experiencing before his tragic death.
The former Alaskan Bush People star’s death has left fans of the long-running reality series mourning a life that was often lived in the public eye. In the days since news broke that Brown’s body was recovered from the Okanogan River in Washington state, those closest to the situation have begun sharing more information about the personal struggles he was facing.
Related: How Matt Brown’s Family Is Doing After Alaskan Bush People Star’s Tragic Death
According to longtime Brown family friend Chay Moore of Stardog Champion K9, Brown was dealing with several painful challenges at the same time, and they all came together to create the tragedy that occurred last month when the former reality TV personality died by suicide.
Moore, who was part of the effort that ultimately recovered Brown’s body, told Page Six on Thursday that he had seen the reality TV personality less than three weeks before his death and witnessed firsthand how overwhelmed he appeared to be at the time.
He explained:
“He couldn’t get his pickup truck running, and that was part of his frustration on that day was the truck’s not going to get running — he can’t go on his trip.”
While a vehicle problem might not seem devastating on its own, Moore suggested it was only one piece of a much larger emotional burden weighing on Brown, adding:
“[Matt] broke up with his girlfriend [too]. All of these things hit him at the same time on that day.”
Oh, dear…
The breakup reportedly involved a woman named Jamie, whom Brown had been dating prior to his death. Although Moore said he was unsure exactly when the relationship ended, he believed it remained a major source of pain and concern for Brown.
Compounding those difficulties were practical struggles that affected Brown’s daily life. Moore described a situation in which transportation had become a significant challenge, particularly after the truck problems came up:
“He had been walking and riding buses and, you know, from town to town to, to survive. He was using buses and stuff.”
The comments paint a picture of someone facing multiple setbacks simultaneously, from relationship troubles to transportation issues and broader personal hardships.
Brown’s brother Bear has also spoken publicly in recent days, saying Matt had been dealing with that aforementioned painful breakup and longstanding battles involving alcohol and drug use. Bear said he did not believe his brother would harm himself, but later acknowledged that the available evidence about Matt’s death now appears to point to a self-inflicted injury.
Meanwhile, Moore credited Jamie with playing a major role in the search effort after Brown disappeared, explaining:
“Matt’s girlfriend was really, really pushing us hard to get it moving and get out there on that water. I think she had a notion of where she thought he was, you know, in her mind, I think. She basically spearheaded the searchers on that river.”
The loss has sent shockwaves through fans who watched the Brown family on Discovery Channel’s Alaskan Bush People from 2014 through 2019. The series followed the family’s unconventional lifestyle and made household names out of several members of the Brown clan.
And now, all we can really do is send love and light to Matt’s family and friends as they continue to process this awful tragedy.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, help is available. Consider contacting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, by calling, texting, or chatting, or go to 988lifeline.org.
[Image via Matt Brown/Instagram]
