Police are investigating after a newborn baby was found dead inside a portable toilet at the Electric Forest electronic music festival in Rothbury, Michigan. The discovery was made on Sunday morning, the final day of the four-day event.
Discovery During Routine Maintenance
An employee of the portable toilet company discovered the baby during routine cleaning, according to Michigan State Police (MSP). The infant was a neonate, meaning it was four weeks old or younger and required specialized care.
“The body of a neonate was found in a portable restroom in the camping area at the Electric Forest festival Sunday morning,” MSP said in a statement. “The body was discovered by an employee of the restroom vending company during routine maintenance. This is an ongoing investigation, and there is no further information to share at this time, and there is no known threat to the public.”
Festival Organizers Respond
Festival organizers posted on Instagram, expressing their distress. “Forest Family, it causes us so much pain to have to share this difficult news with you,” the statement read. “@michstatepolice continues to investigate this tragic event; if you can assist in any way. HQ is heartbroken and knows that our Forest Family is as well.”
Police Appeal for Information
Police have asked the public and festivalgoers to come forward with any relevant information. “If you were in the area and observed anything unusual, or if you have information that you believe may be relevant, we encourage you to come forward,” MSP said. “We appreciate the public’s cooperation and ask that people avoid speculation on social media out of respect for the investigation and those affected.”
About Electric Forest
Electric Forest draws an estimated 50,000 attendees to the rural area of Michigan. The festival takes place at Double JJ Resort and features dozens of DJs and bands, mostly within the EDM and jam band genres. The annual event started in 2011 and took two years off during the COVID-19 pandemic.
