Michigan State Police are investigating the death of a neonate found inside a portable toilet during the Electric Forest festival in rural western Michigan. An autopsy was completed Monday, and investigators have not classified the death as a homicide as of Tu
ROTHBURY, Mich.—Sunday morning, on the last day of the Electric Forest festival, a portable toilet was supposed to be routine maintenance. Instead, it became the starting point of a death investigation.
A baby’s body was found inside the restroom during routine servicing by an employee of the bathroom company, Michigan State Police said. Police described the child as a neonate, meaning younger than 28 days old.
Michigan State Police Lt. Pat Agema said an autopsy was completed on Monday. Investigators plan to provide updates after reviewing the results. As of Tuesday, the death had not been classified as a homicide, Agema said.
Police have not said how the baby died. whether the child was a boy or a girl. or whether a parent. guardian. or person connected to the baby has been identified. The investigation is now focused on what can be learned from people who were nearby when the restroom was used. serviced. or accessed during the festival’s final hours.
The festival began Thursday and typically draws tens of thousands of people for electronic dance music and jam bands. Most attendees camp at the 2,000-acre Double JJ Resort near the shores of Lake Michigan. Police said the body was found in the festival’s camping area.
Festival organizers shared the state police post about the death on Monday. In the message, they said, “it causes us so much pain to have to share this difficult news with you.” Organizers said they had joined police in urging festival attendees to help, asking people to “assist in any way.”
Organizers did not immediately return a message seeking comment Tuesday.
For now, police are asking the public for help as they investigate what happened inside that portable toilet. Anyone with possible information or witnesses connected to the camping area is being urged to come forward.
Electric Forest portable toilet neonate autopsy Michigan State Police Rothbury Double JJ Resort music festival investigation