Man Vanished from Michigan Music Festival in 2018. His Remains Were Just Found, but Cause of Death Remains Unknown

Mar. 15, 2025

Kevin Graves.Photo:Missing Persons Center

Missing Persons Center

The remains of a Michigan man who went missing in 2018 have been found, state police confirm.

Days after announcing that human remains had been found in a wooded area near Rothbury, where the annual Electric Forest music festival is held, Michigan state police confirmed the remains belong to Kevin Graves.

“Detectives from the Michigan State Police (MSP) Hart Post have confirmed that human remains located Monday, December 30, 2024, are that ofKevin Graves, of Highland Township, Oakland County,” Michigan State Police’s Sixth DistricttweetedThursday, Jan. 2.

A cause of death has yet to be determined.

“Thanks to everybody for the support they gave us and the prayers they’ve given us and all the help they gave us,” his father, Gary Graves, 80, toldFox 17after the update. “Not much more we can say except that at least now we can have a little peace.”

Kevin, who would’ve been 34, was last seen at the Electric Forest music festival in Oceana County’s Rothbury on July 1, 2018, before his then-girlfriend reported him as a missing person on July 3, 2018.

Kevin Graves missing poster.Help Us Find Kevin Graves/Facebook

Help Us Find Kevin Graves/Facebook

“They said they found his wallet, his phone and he had a (festival) wristband on,” Gary told the outlet Wednesday, Jan. 1. “They just got to do an autopsy and dental records and everything and then they’ll get back with us.”

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard added, “If there is a confirmation that it is indeed (Kevin Graves), we will begin to work on further information to determine how he ended up there from where he was last seen and what was the manner and cause of death.”

During an investigation after his disappearance, a couple told police they saw Kevin arguing with his girlfriend, and that he walked off crying before he went missing, per MLive.

Since then, his family has placed billboards near the festival grounds calling for information, and have also provided DNA samples and access to Kevin’s dental records to help authorities with the case.

On Dec. 31, Gary and his wife Kathy Graves, 67, received a visit from lead detective Sgt. David Bach of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office with the new information.

“All of a sudden, he said what he said and my wife collapsed,” Gary told MLive. “And I grabbed her and then went over and sat on the couch and (Bach) got down on his one knee trying to comfort us and explain what they found.”

Searches for Kevin were previously conducted, but were deemed unsuccessful until the two hunters came across the remains while clearing a path recently.

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“With the dogs and everything they claim they had running around there looking, I can’t see how we missed him,” Gary said. “But I can’t say for sure until I know exactly where it was at.”

The grieving father said he hopes the next steps will bring closure to the family.

“I’m hoping that they’re going to find something that’s going to help figure out what happened to him,” he said. “We didn’t really want that answer."

source: people.com