The discovery came as severe weather also disrupted the festival’s final night.
ROTHBURY, Mich. — Electric Forest organizers said they were heartbroken after a newborn was found dead Sunday morning in a portable restroom at the festival’s campground, prompting a Michigan State Police investigation.
The death added a grim turn to the final day of the four-day festival at Double JJ Resort. Police said a restroom vendor employee discovered the infant during routine service in the camping area. Investigators said there was no known public threat, but they asked witnesses to share any useful information.
Festival officials told attendees that state police were leading the investigation. “Michigan State Police continues to investigate this tragic event if you can assist in any way,” organizers said in an online message. They said the festival’s headquarters staff and the wider Electric Forest community were grieving.
Police described the infant as a neonate, a term for a newborn 28 days old or younger. They did not release the baby’s sex, exact age, cause of death or whether the child had been born on the festival grounds. Those unanswered questions remained central to the investigation Monday.
Electric Forest draws tens of thousands of attendees to Rothbury each year and includes large camping sections near the concert grounds. The festival is known for electronic music, art installations and late-night performances. This year’s event began Thursday and continued through the weekend before the police investigation became public Sunday.
The festival’s final night was also affected by severe weather. Organizers paused or shut down parts of the event Sunday night as storms moved through the area, then allowed limited activity to resume early Monday. Officials did not connect the weather disruption to the police investigation.
Michigan State Police asked people not to speculate online while detectives gathered evidence. The agency said anyone who saw something unusual in the camping area or had information that could help should contact investigators. No arrest or suspect information had been released by Monday.
The discovery left festival staff, vendors and attendees facing questions about what happened in a crowded campground where thousands of people had gathered for the weekend. Police have not said when they expect to release more information.
As of Monday, June 29, the investigation remained active, with the next major update expected after investigators receive more medical and witness information.
Author note: Last updated June 29, 2026.