Before the official confirmation, the search had already taken a deeply troubling turn. In dispatch audio released by TMZ, responding personnel could be heard discussing a backpack and phone that had been found, while noting that no body had initially been located.
The audio also referenced an empty holster inside the backpack and a reported revolver believed to have gone into the river. Responders could be heard calling for the scene to be secured as a county boat and dive team were sent to search for the body and the weapon.
Those details were grim, but at that stage, the situation was still developing. Matt’s brother Bear later gave fans a painful update, reiterating in an Instagram video that a body had been found and positively identified as Matt.
Bear said his and Matt’s brother, Noah Brown, was with officials and helped pull the body from the water before identifying him. He also said he never imagined Matt would hurt himself, even though Matt had struggled for a long time.
He explained that he had worried Matt might “end up” overdosing, but said he did not think his brother would end up how he did. Bear added that the injury appeared to be self-inflicted, though he acknowledged that the coroner and officials would be the ones to make formal determinations.
He also asked people to be respectful to his family, especially their mother, and warned fans that online comments can be more damaging than people realize.
“Sometimes, like, words can hurt more than fists can,” Bear said. He then pointed out that one of Matt’s last videos addressed negative comments, reminding viewers that the people they watch online are real human beings on the other side of the screen.
