Electric forest discovered near festival, man’s body reported missing

Editor’s note: The following story contains details regarding discussion of infant death and suicide that some readers may find disturbing.

Michigan State Police say the body of a 28-year-old man who was reported missing after this year’s Electric Forest Festival in Rothbury, Michigan, was found in a wooded area near the event. Gerard Jackson, an Illinois native, went missing after leaving a festival on June 29, and his body was found near his parked rental car, MSP District 6 said in a statement.

State police were called to Jackson’s campsite early Wednesday morning after he reported an unspecified suspected crime involving a friend. After police investigated and interviewed everyone involved, it was determined that there was no incident at the festival, and Jackson reportedly left the venue immediately.

Investigators said Jackson left behind his cell phone and other personal items, and officers determined that Jackson’s rental car was located in the Rothbury area. The car was unoccupied and Jackson’s wallet and keys were found inside. Jackson’s body was later discovered in a nearby wooded area, and authorities determined he died by suicide and there were no signs of foul play.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident, as well as the death of a newborn baby whose body was found in a portable toilet at the festival site on the final day of a four-day electronic music gathering that featured Shpongle, Kaskade, Bob Moses, Excision, Eli Brown, Passion Pit, Griz and more.

More than a week after a newborn baby was discovered by a restroom vending company employee at a Good Life campground, Michigan State Police announced no arrests have been made in the case, ABC 13 reported. The department reported that an autopsy on the baby, described as a “neonatal baby” less than four weeks old, has been completed, but investigators are still awaiting the coroner’s final report to determine the cause of death. So far, no information has been released about the infant’s cause of death, race, gender or health condition at the time of her discovery, as investigators continue to search for the woman who gave birth at the event that drew more than 50,000 people to Double J.J. Ranch over the weekend.

At press time, it was unclear whether police had any suspects or witnesses in the case, and a Michigan State Police spokesperson did not respond to Billboard’s request for comment.

If you or someone you know is suffering or experiencing a mental health crisis, help is available by calling or texting 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.