Michigan State Police are investigating after the body of a newborn was discovered Sunday morning inside a portable restroom in the camping area at the Electric Forest music festival in Rothbury. An employee for the vendor that services the toilets found the infant during routine maintenance as the four-day event took place on private grounds at the Double JJ Ranch, police said.
What officials released
"The body was discovered by an employee of the restroom vending company during routine maintenance," the state agency said, according to CBS News. Michigan State Police also told reporters that investigators are working to determine what happened, the outlet reported.
Where it happened
Electric Forest is staged on the Double JJ Ranch in rural Rothbury, and the festival's website lists the 2026 dates as June 25–28, per Electric Forest. The contact page for the Double JJ Resort lists the property's location and camping areas and gives the address as 5900 S Water Rd, Rothbury.
Investigation underway
Local reporting says the Michigan State Police Sixth District is leading the probe but has released few details so far, according to WNEM. Authorities reiterated there is "no known threat to the public" as forensic work continues at the scene, the outlet reported.
Attendees' accounts
Some festivalgoers posted on social channels describing an increased police presence around camping areas and searches, though those firsthand posts have not been independently verified. A multi-comment discussion thread in the Electric Forest subreddit collected several attendee accounts about activity on Sunday morning; the thread is available on the Electric Forest subreddit.
What's next
Officials said they will provide updates as the investigation continues and that more information will be released when available. Autopsy and forensic testing will determine the cause of death and help investigators decide whether criminal charges are warranted, CBS News reported.
