Michigan State Police are investigating the discovery of a newborn baby's body found inside a portable toilet at the Electric Forest Festival in Rothbury, Michigan. The tragic find occurred on Sunday morning, the final day of the four-day electronic music and arts festival.
Discovery During Routine Maintenance
An employee servicing the campground's portable toilets made the discovery at around 10 a.m. local time. "Michigan State Police can confirm that the body of a neonate was found in a portable restroom in the camping area at the Electric Forest festival Sunday morning," police said in a statement. "The body was discovered by an employee of the restroom vending company during routine maintenance." The World Health Organisation defines a neonate as a newborn infant within the first 28 days of life.
Festival Details and Response
Electric Forest, held annually in Rothbury about a three-and-a-half-hour drive northwest of Detroit, began on June 25 and concluded on Sunday. The sold-out event attracted tens of thousands of music fans to performances by artists including Kaskade, Chris Lake, and Excision. Festival organisers expressed their grief in a statement posted to Instagram: "Forest Family, it causes us so much pain to have to share this difficult news with you. HQ is heartbroken and knows that our Forest Family is as well." Some social media users questioned why the festival continued, while others defended the decision.
Police Appeal for Information
Police have appealed for anyone who was in the campground and may have information to come forward and urged people to refrain from speculation as the investigation continues. "We appreciate the public's cooperation and ask that people avoid speculation on social media out of respect for the investigation and those affected," they said. No details have been released about the circumstances surrounding the baby's death or whether the mother has been identified.
