Tragedy at Electric Forest festival as man, 28, is found dead
A man was found dead in the woods after attending a music festival in Michigan, marking the event's second tragedy in as many days.
Jerard 'Jay' Jackson, 28, from Illinois, was reported missing after he was seen leaving the Electric Forest Festival on Monday morning, June 29.
According to Michigan State Police, it appears Jackson took his own life and there is 'no indication of foul play.'
Jackson's body was located the next day in a wooded area in Rothbury, about 60 miles northwest of Grand Rapids, just two days after the body of a newborn was discovered in a portable restroom at the same festival.
Jackson's close friend, Connor Prettyman, posted in an Electric Forest Facebook group on Tuesday asking other festival goers for help before the body was eventually found.
Prettyman said that Jackson had left all his belongings at their shared campsite and didn't seem himself at the time he went missing.
'It is thought that he might have had some sort of mental crisis and wandered off when we were asleep,' Prettyman said.
Jackson's rental vehicle was found unoccupied a few miles from the festival grounds with his wallet and keys still inside.
Jerard 'Jay' Jackson, 28, was reported dead on June 30, after attending the Electric Forest music festival in Michigan
Jackson (pictured on right) had been missing for over 24 hours after being seen leaving the festival early Monday morning
The news marks the festival's second major tragedy, coming two days after a newborn was found dead in a portable toilet at the same event
At around 3.30p Tuesday, local authorities reported Jackson's body had been found.
Close friends of Jackson posted many statements of adoration for their lost friend, all referencing his endless joy.
'You never stopped f*cking smiling, you never stopped making this world a better place,' said @jewstonee.
'The most contagious smile in the world. I hope you now feel how truly loved you are Jay,' added @aamandakay.
'Behind that beautiful smile was a soul that had endured more than it ever spoke of,' continued @ghostkissed.
'The most contagious smile, you will be so missed jay,' agreed @lizzlachapelle.
Jackson's friend, Amanda Kay, declined to comment to the Daily Mail but said, 'there is a ton of wrong information being spread. We are all just trying to grieve.'
Michigan police have stated that the investigation remains ongoing and is pending a final report from a medical examiner.
According to Michigan State Police, it appears Jackson took his own life and there is 'no indication of foul play.' The investigation is ongoing as police await final report from a medical examiner
'The most contagious smile in the world. I hope you now feel how truly loved you are Jay' posted Jackson's friend, Amanda Kay (not pictured)
Instagram posts indicate Jackson and his friends have attended many music festivals, including past years' Electric Forest
Electric Forest has not released a statement on the matter.
The death came just after a 'neonate' baby, four weeks or younger, was discovered during routine maintenance of the restroom on Sunday morning.
Investigators are concerned for the health of the unidentified mother, and the case remains ongoing as they determine whether the death was criminal.
The infant's identity and exact age have not yet been publicly released, and whether or not the death was criminal in nature is still being investigated.
Police requested that 'people avoid speculation on social media out of respect for the investigation and those affected.' The parents have also not been identified.
Electric Forest's 2026 lineup included over 100 artists such as ILLENIUM, Kaskade, GRiZ, and The String Cheese Incident.
Admission prices this year varied starting at $150 for a general admission pass and going as high as $16,100, depending on the chosen lodging package.
Other offered activities consisted of arts, athletic and nature programs.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
