A Michigan man was left with devastating neck injuries and can communicate only by blinking after an alleged attack at a folk music festival, according to those close to him.
Darryl “Lonn” Hartman, 37, has not been able to tell investigators directly what happened on the night of July 12 at the Blissfest Music Festival in Harbor Springs, Mich., the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.
Hartman had traveled to Blissfest with his dance partner to perform at the annual event, a long-running music festival held on a 200-acre farm that draws about 5,000 attendees each year.
But after going to bed early following his performance, Hartman was discovered around 9 a.m. the next morning hanging partly out of his tent with two large cuts near his neck, his friend Terace Garnier told Fox 2 Detroit.
Hartman, who mentors underprivileged children in Detroit, has been hospitalized for more than a week after losing roughly eight pints of blood in the alleged assault, Garnier said.
“It was looking like he shouldn’t be alive right now,” Garnier said. “That’s basically what they were saying with the amount of blood that he lost.”
Authorities said they have been in contact with Hartman’s family after friends claimed he identified his attacker from his hospital bed by blinking and nodding his head.
“He told us who did this so we know who did this. The individuals were Caucasian, so we believe it’s a hate crime and potentially a crime of passion,” Garnier added.
Investigators also said that, based on the evidence reviewed so far, they have found no evidence indicating the assault was a targeted hate crime or that Hartman’s injuries were self-inflicted.
“We remain committed to finding answers, identifying what occurred that evening, and bringing this investigation to a successful conclusion,” the sheriff’s office said.
Blissfest Music Festival is a yearly event that brings together more than 100 acts across several venues.
Blissfest organizers said that the alleged attack has “understandably stirred deep concern and speculation.”
“Our hearts go out to everyone who has reached out with concern following reports that an individual connected to this year’s event may have been the victim of an assault,” the festival said in a statement on Thursday.
“From the moment Blissfest became aware of this situation, the organization has cooperated fully with law enforcement as they carefully reviewed the circumstances surrounding this sensitive incident.
“Out of respect for the investigative process and those affected, Blissfest has refrained from commenting on unverified claims.”
The sheriff’s office urged the public to avoid speculation as the investigation continues.
Anyone with firsthand information is asked to contact the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office by emailing blissfestinvestigation@emmetcounty.org, calling 231-348-0605 or submitting a tip through the sheriff’s office mobile app.
