Over the July 16-18 weekend, Brooklyn, Michigan was home to thousands of country music fans for the Faster Horses Festival. Jason Aldean, Luke Combs, and Thomas Rhett were just a few of the long list of performers.
Sadly, the weekend of fun turned into a tragic one.
MLive reports a woman’s body was discovered on festival grounds at 7:30 AM on Saturday (July 17). Police later identified the woman as 30-year-old Melissa Donna Havens. Her cause of death is currently under investigation.
Police have asked for the public’s help in identifying an a man who was seen with the woman within 24 hours before her body was found. MLive reported that “the subject is reported as a Black male in his 30s, with short black hair and a short beard. The individual was reported as wearing a gray hoodie. Anyone with information on this incident is instructed to contact Sgt. Daniel Drewyor at 734-819-8192.“
Police said more information would be released when available. https://t.co/WkAga5TTsf
— FOX 2 Detroit (@FOX2News) July 17, 2021
Later that day (Saturday July 17), three men were found dead in their travel trailer in a campground near the festival.
The Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed their deaths on Facebook, writing, “On July 17 at approximately 1:27 pm Lenawee County Central Dispatch received a 911 call regarding unresponsive persons at a campground in Woodstock Township, Michigan, during the Faster Horses Festival. Emergency Medical Responders and Sheriff Deputies responded to the campground…and found five males in their early 20s inside the travel trailer, all unresponsive.”
The Sheriff’s Office’s statement went on to say that three of the men were pronounced dead at the scene, while the two others were transported to the local hospital in critical condition.
“This tragic incident is being investigated as a suspected carbon monoxide exposure from a generator located very near the travel trailer,” the Sheriff’s Office’s statement read.
According to MLive, festival organizers initially refused to comment on any of the deaths, but on Monday (July 19), the festival released the following statement.
“All of us in the Faster Horses Festival Family are deeply saddened by the tragic losses this weekend, as confirmed by the Lenawee County Sheriff’s department. We will continue to stay in close contact with The Lenawee County Sheriff and all other Law enforcement agencies, and follow their lead regarding any and all information as it is officially confirmed. Our hearts are broken for the families, friends and loved ones.“
— Faster Horses Festival (@faster_horses) July 19, 2021
Watch the news report on the deaths below.