After Newborn’s Death, Michigan Residents Push to Suspend Electric Forest

Should Electric Forest be put on hold?

That's the question a lot of people are asking after a newborn baby's body was found inside a portable toilet during this year's festival in Rothbury.

More Than 1,500 People Want the Festival Suspended

Electric Forest YouTube

Now, to be clear, not everyone wants Electric Forest shut down. But according to MLive, more than 1,500 people have signed a petition asking village leaders to suspend the festival until changes are made.

See Also: 9-Month-Old Left Alone on Michigan Trail During Hazardous Air Quality

I'll be honest, I'm having a hard time connecting this tragedy to the festival itself. I don't know what policy or security change could have prevented something like this. Based on what we know right now, it feels like a heartbreaking, isolated incident.

Will Electric Forest Be Suspended?

For now, it doesn't sound like Electric Forest is going anywhere. Village leaders say they're not going to consider suspending the festival until the investigation is complete and all the facts are known. Meanwhile, the FBI is still offering a $15,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the newborn's death.

Not everyone agrees with the petition, either. Some say suspending the festival would be an overreaction and point out that Electric Forest has a huge economic impact on the area.

One thing's for sure: this story isn't going away anytime soon.