The body of a newborn was found inside a porta potty at the Electric Forest music festival in Rothbury, Michigan, on Sunday, June 28, 2026. Michigan State Police are investigating the case as a death of unknown cause.
What Happened at Electric Forest
Michigan State Police said the body of a neonate was found in a portable restroom in the camping area at the Electric Forest festival on Sunday morning. The discovery was made by a worker with the restroom vending company during routine maintenance. NBC NewsNBC News
The festival was held at the Double JJ Resort, about 64 miles northwest of Grand Rapids. The four-day event ran from Thursday, June 25, through Sunday, June 28. WOODTVNBC News
Sources told local news outlet News 8 that it appeared the baby had been born inside the porta potty, since the placenta and umbilical cord were present at the scene. It is not yet clear if the baby was stillborn or died after birth. WOODTVWOODTV
Police Response and Investigation
Michigan State Police posted about the incident at 1:18 p.m. on Sunday, confirming the discovery. MSP Lieutenant Pat Agema confirmed that an investigation is underway, and police stated there is no known threat to the public. NBC ChicagoWOODTV
Police are now asking anyone with information to come forward. Investigators are asking for the public’s assistance as their investigation continues, and have asked anyone who was in the area and saw anything unusual to contact them. NBC Chicago
Police also asked the public to avoid speculation on social media out of respect for the investigation and those affected. Rolling Stone
How Electric Forest Responded
Electric Forest contracts with Michigan State Police to provide security at the event, which draws tens of thousands of festivalgoers each year. NBC News
On Sunday night, festival organizers shared the police statement on social media. The organizers wrote that the news caused them deep pain and that headquarters staff were heartbroken, while also acknowledging that the wider festival community would feel the same way. NBC Chicago
Reaction From Festivalgoers
People leaving the campgrounds on Monday said they had already heard about the incident. One festivalgoer from Utah said she did not realize the baby was a newborn until she saw the official post the next morning, and called the news very sad. WOODTV
Many attendees were left asking who the mother was and what had happened, the same questions Michigan State Police are working to answer as troopers search for evidence and witnesses. WOODTV
Michigan’s Safe Delivery Law
Michigan has a law that allows parents to safely give up a newborn without facing criminal charges, as long as the baby is not harmed. This law exists for situations exactly like unplanned or hidden pregnancies.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services oversees the state’s Safe Delivery program, which allows parents to safely and legally surrender a newborn no more than three days old. WOODTV
| Surrender Option | Who Can Receive the Baby |
|---|---|
| Hospital | Any uniformed employee on duty |
| Fire department | Any uniformed employee on duty |
| Police station | Any uniformed employee on duty |
| Emergency call | EMT or paramedic dispatched after calling 911 |
In 2025, 29 infants were surrendered under this program in Michigan. The law is designed to protect both the parent and the baby in cases where the parent feels unable to care for the newborn. WOODTV
Background on Electric Forest
Electric Forest has been held in Rothbury since 2008, when it began as the Rothbury Music Festival before being renamed Electric Forest in 2011. The 2026 event featured electronic dance music acts including Illenium, Excision, Kaskade, GRiZ, Chris Lake, and The String Cheese Incident. Rolling StoneNBC News
Current Status of the Case
As of this report, Michigan State Police have not released the cause of death or identified the parents. The investigation remains active, and police continue to ask the public for any relevant information.
