Electric Forest 2025 Alive Coverage

Editor’s note: the following story contains details about the death of an infant and discussion of suicide that some readers might find disturbing.

Michigan State Police announced that the body of a 28-year-old man reported missing after this year’s Electric Forest Festival in Rothbury, Mich. was found in a wooded area near the event. According to a statement from the MSP Sixth District, Illinois native Jerard Jackson was reported missing on June 29 after leaving the festival, with his body found near his parked rental car.

Earlier on the morning of the 29th, state troopers responded to Jackson’s campsite after he reported an unspecified alleged criminal incident involving a friend. After troopers conducted an investigation and interviewed all involved parties, they determined there was no incident at the festival and Jackson reportedly left the venue a short time later.

Investigators said Jackson left his cellphone and other personal belongings behind, with troopers determining that his rental vehicle was in the Rothbury area; they found the car unoccupied with Jackson’s wallet and keys inside. They then found Jackson’s body in a wooded area nearby, with officials determining that he appeared to have died by suicide, with no indication of foul play.

Police are still investigating that incident, as well as the death of a newborn baby, whose body was found in a portable toilet on the festival grounds on the final day of the four-day electronic music gathering that took place from June 25-28 and featured sets from Shpongle, Kaskade, Bob Moses, Excision, Eli Brown, Passion Pit, Griz and many more.

According to ABC 13, more than a week after the discovery of the newborn in the Good Life camping area by a worker with the restroom vending company, Michigan State Police say no arrests have been made in the incident. The station reported that an autopsy has been completed on what has been described as a “neonate” — a baby four weeks old or younger — but investigators are still awaiting a medical examiner’s final report to determine the cause of death. To date, no information has been released about the cause of the infant’s death, their race, gender or health at the time they were found, and investigators are still searching for the woman who gave birth at the event that drew upwards of 50,000 people to the Double JJ Ranch over the weekend.

It was unclear at press time if police had any suspects or witnesses in the case. In a statement to Billboard on Tuesday (July 7), a spokesperson for the Michigan State Police said the investigation remains “active and ongoing and it is being treated as a top priority.” They added, “Investigators continue to follow up on all leads, conduct interviews, and work closely with our forensic and prosecutorial partners to ensure every aspect of this case is thoroughly examined.”

The spokesperson said that officials are unable to release any additional investigative details at this time and encouraged anyone with information that has not yet been shared with police to contact Michigan State Police or submit a tip through Mich Tip @www.michigan.gov/michtip, or calll 1-855-MICHTIP (642-4847).

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

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