The body of a newborn was discovered inside a portable toilet at a Michigan music festival over the weekend, prompting Michigan State Police to appeal for the public’s help.
The body was found by an employee of the bathroom company during routine maintenance Sunday morning, the last day of the Electric Forest festival. Police described the baby as a neonate — younger than 28 days old — and said the remains were located in the festival’s camping area.
Sources told WOOD-TV News 8 that it appeared the baby had been born inside the portable toilet, with the placenta and umbilical cord present. Authorities have not said whether the baby was born alive or stillborn.
Police have not said how the baby died, whether it was a boy or a girl, or whether a parent, guardian or person connected to the baby has been identified. Michigan State Police Lt. Pat Agema said an autopsy was completed Monday and that police would provide updates once those results are reviewed by investigators. The death has not been classified as a homicide, Mr. Agema said.
The four-day festival, previously known as the Rothbury Music Festival, has operated under the Electric Forest name since 2011 and attracts around 50,000 attendees to the area each year. Most attendees camp at the 2,000-acre Double JJ Resort in Rothbury.
On Facebook Sunday night, Electric Forest organizers shared Michigan State Police’s statement, adding that “HQ is heartbroken and knows that our Forest Family is as well.”
Michigan State Police asked that anyone who observed anything unusual in the area, or who has information that may be relevant, come forward, while urging the public to avoid speculation on social media out of respect for the investigation and those affected. Tips can be submitted at michigan.gov/michtip.
Michigan’s Safe Delivery program, overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services, allows parents to safely and legally surrender a newborn no more than three days old to a uniformed employee on duty at any hospital, fire department or police station, or to an emergency medical technician or paramedic by calling 911. In 2025, 29 infants were surrendered under the program, according to MDHHS.
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