Body of Newborn Found in Portable Toilet

The body of a newborn was discovered in a portable toilet at the Electric Forest Festival in Rothbury, Michigan this weekend.

According to the Michigan State Police, an employee of the restroom vending company discovered the body “during routine maintenance” on Sunday morning (June 28). The portable toilet was located on the festival’s campgrounds.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing and asked for the public’s assistance. “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,” the 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.”

On Facebook Sunday night, Electric Forest organizers shared the MSP’s statement, adding, “HQ is heartbroken and knows that our Forest Family is as well.” (Reps for the festival did not immediately return a request for further comment.) 

Electric Forest has been held in Rothbury since 2008, when it debuted as the Rothbury Music Festival and changed its name to Electric Forest in 2011. Over the years, the festival has largely featured acts from across the EDM and dance spectrum, with jam bands, rock groups, pop acts, and hip-hop artists occasionally taking the stage as well. 

This isn’t the first time tragedy has struck the festival. In 2018, a Detroit-area man, later identified as Kevin Graves, disappeared from Electric Forest, and his remains weren’t discovered until January 2025. An autopsy left the cause of death as undetermined, though there were no obvious signs of trauma on the bones discovered.