A cleaning crew at Michigan’s Electric Forest music festival made a horrifying discovery when they found a newborn’s body inside a porta potty, with authorities later determining the baby had been breathing after being delivered in the temporary restroom.
Michigan State Police said the body of the “neonate” was discovered Sunday morning by an employee of the restroom company during routine servicing.
Investigators said the infant was found in portable toilets located within the festival’s camping area.
Sources told News 8 that the baby is believed to have been delivered inside the porta potty, where the placenta and umbilical cord were also allegedly located.
According to the outlet, the newborn was confirmed to have been born alive and had been breathing, with fluid found in the baby’s lungs and stomach.
By Tuesday, Michigan State Police Lt. Pat Agema said the infant’s death had been classified as a homicide.
Police said Wednesday that an autopsy had been performed, though the findings had not yet been confirmed as officials awaited the formal report.
Authorities have not released the identity of anyone who may be connected to the newborn.
After beginning on Thursday, the electronic music festival saw thousands of attendees pass through and camp out on the grounds near Lake Michigan.
A ‘neonate’ child’s body was found by an employee of the bathroom company during routine maintenance on Sunday morning, as it is revealed the child was alive at birth
Sources confirmed the newborn discovered in the porta potty on the festival camping grounds, seen above, was born alive and breathing with fluid in its lungs and stomach
On Wednesday, police announced that an autopsy had been completed but results could not be confirmed pending an official report
One festival goer said on Reddit that they woke up to the sight of police on Sunday morning, unaware of the tragic incident just feet from their tents.
‘This happened right by us at the Electric Avenue preset tents. We got up this morning to head out of the fest and there were about six-eight cops, four cop cars and a bunch of security/EF staff parked right around two cordoned off porta potties,’ they wrote on Sunday.
‘We didn’t know what was going on but figured something bad happened… But this is horrifying. My girlfriend used those same bank of porta potties at around 6am and could’ve been unlucky enough to have gone in one of those. So sad.’
Another Reddit post, which appears to have been deleted, also indicated they had even seen the child and believed it was a doll.
‘I went into the porta potty and was about to sit down but glimpsed what was apparently an infant’s face,’ the user wrote.
‘I was confused for a second, but honestly I thought it was a doll. People always bring weird s*** to festivals and it never occurred to me it was an actual body.
‘After I read the report, it clicked… I now live with this crazy amount of guilt. Maybe if I took it seriously and reported it earlier that baby would still be alive? I’m very traumatized though and I won’t be going to any music festivals or porta potties for a long time.’
In a statement Electric Forest wrote: ‘Forest Family, it causes us so much pain to have to share this difficult news with you. Michigan State Police continues to investigate this tragic event if you can assist in any way. HQ is heartbroken and knows that our Forest Family is as well’
Across social media, many attendees expressed shock at the amount of pregnant festival goers they had seen over the weekend.
In a statement online, Electric Forest wrote: ‘Forest Family, it causes us so much pain to have to share this difficult news with you. Michigan State Police continues to investigate this tragic event if you can assist in any way. HQ is heartbroken and knows that our Forest Family is as well.’
But another Electric Forest post at the close of the festival celebrated: ‘Another stunner.’
Users ripped into the organizers for its ‘tone deaf’ response.
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‘Chance of bad weather: “we need to cancel.” Legitimate crime scene of a baby in a porta potty: “what an amazing year this was.” Really,’ one user commented.
‘You posted this before addressing the infant’s life that was lost? Please get bent,’ one user angrily commented.
Another responded: ‘No, like who is in charge of their social media?? Hoping this was a scheduled post and they aren’t intentionally ignoring making a statement.’
A third replied that the company ‘are the ones with the reach’ to help find information on the incident.
‘Tone dead EF. Oh, sorry. I mean to say tone dead AF,’ a fourth comment read.
‘Crazy how the biggest headline of this place is about a dead baby in a porta potty yet you’re like “wow another great year,” shut this s*** down forever,’ one user said.
Another slammed the company for being ‘out of touch,’ with more describing the response as ‘tone deaf.’
‘Another year another body. Sad it was a little one this year,’ another comment read.
‘Electric Trauma Forest,’ another user quipped.
Police said on X that investigators are seeking assistance from the public for any information on the incident.
The popular festival saw a number of incidents as it came to a close on Sunday, with a number of deaths, including a car crash and a suicide, as well as a missing person.
The Daily Mail reached out to Electric Forest, which asked that questions be directed to Michigan State Police.
The popular festival saw a number of incidents as it came to a close on Sunday, with a number of deaths, including a car crash and a suicide, as well as a missing person
Jerard ‘Jay’ Jackson, 28, was reported dead on June 30, after attending the Electric Forest music festival in Michigan
Jackson (pictured right) was missing for over 24 hours after being seen leaving the festival early Monday morning. He was discovered to have hung himself after his body was found
The horrifying discovery marked yet another tragedy for the electronic music festival after a man went missing and was found to have hung himself on the grounds.
Jerard ‘Jay’ Jackson, 28, was reported missing after he was seen leaving the festival on Monday morning. At around 3.30pm on Tuesday, local authorities reported Jackson’s body had been found.
According to Michigan State Police, it appears the Illinois native took his own life with ‘no indication of foul play.’
And a car crash was linked to the festival, while a third person is said to still be missing.
Electric Forest’s 2026 lineup included over 100 artists such as ILLENIUM, Kaskade, GRiZ, and The String Cheese Incident.
Admission prices this year began at $150 for general admission and reached up to $16,100. The festival also offered activities such as arts, athletics and nature programs.
