Sh0ck at Electric Forest Festival in Michigan After Newborn Baby Found in Portable Toilet
The body of a newborn baby has been found inside a portable toilet at a sold-out US music festival, with police investigating the tragic discovery.
An employee servicing the campground’s portable toilets found the baby on Sunday morning (local time), the final day of the four-day Electric Forest Festival in Rothbury, Michigan.
“Michigan State Police can confirm that the body of a neonate was found in a portable restroom in the camping area at the Electric Forest festival Sunday morning,” police said in a statement.
“The body was discovered by an employee of the restroom vending company during routine maintenance.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines a neonate as a newborn infant in the first 28 days of life.
The annual electronic music and arts festival, about a three-and-a-half-hour drive north-west of Detroit, began on June 25 and wrapped up on Sunday, attracting tens of thousands of music fans to performances by artists including Kaskade, Chris Lake and Excision.
Festival organisers said they were “heartbroken” by the discovery.
“Forest Family, it causes us so much pain to have to share this difficult news with you,” Electric Forest headquarters said in a statement posted to Instagram.
“HQ is heartbroken and knows that our Forest Family is as well.”
Some social media users questioned why the festival continued, while others defended the decision.
Police have since appealed for anyone who was in the campground and may have information to come forward and also urged people to refrain from speculation as the investigation continues.
“We appreciate the public’s cooperation and ask that people avoid speculation on social media out of respect for the investigation and those affected,” they said.
Police have not released any details about the circumstances surrounding the baby’s death or whether they have identified the mother.
