A newborn baby found dead inside a porta-potty at the Electric Forest music festival in Rothbury, Michigan, was reportedly born alive. The infant was discovered on the final day of the four-day festival, which draws approximately 40,000 attendees.
Sources told WoodTV that post-mortem results indicate fluid in the baby’s lungs and stomach, suggesting it was breathing at birth. The baby was found with the placenta and umbilical cord inside the portable toilet during routine maintenance by an employee of a restroom vending company.
Michigan State Police have confirmed an autopsy has been completed. However, Lt. Pat Agema stated that the official results have not yet been received and thus cannot be confirmed. The cause of death remains unreleased, but Agema noted that the death is not currently classified as a homicide. The gender of the baby and the identity of the mother have not been released as the investigation continues.
Investigators are reportedly reviewing festival video and photo evidence in an effort to identify the mother, according to former Michigan State Police detective Lew Langham. Langham described such incidents as rare, emphasizing the need to find someone who can explain the circumstances surrounding the baby’s discovery. The baby is classified as a neonate, meaning it was less than 28 days old.