Grant Township, Mich. — The parents of a man who went missing in 2018 from the Electric Forest music festival near Rothbury are refusing to give up their quest for answers, despite the discovery of his remains years later. Kevin Graves, 28, from Oakland County, was last seen at the popular festival in June of that year. His disappearance left his family in turmoil, but after nearly five years of uncertainty, a breakthrough in late 2023 provided them with a grim resolution.
A sheriff’s deputy arrived at the Graves family’s door last year with the devastating news that Kevin’s remains had been found in a wooded area not far from the festival grounds. Along with his remains, authorities discovered Kevin’s wallet and phone, but the answers they had been searching for for so long remained elusive.
Kathy Graves, Kevin’s mother, reflected on the years of anguish the family endured after his disappearance, calling the experience “a lifetime” of searching for answers. “It’s still open in our hearts,” Kathy said. “We’ll never be the same.”
Despite initial searches in the area, Kevin’s whereabouts remained a mystery, leading his family and volunteers to distribute missing person flyers at subsequent festivals, including in 2019. In 2023, the Graves family also helped fund a billboard with Kevin’s face, hoping that public awareness would lead to answers. But it wasn’t until much later that the remains were found, leaving them with lingering questions about how they could have been missed during earlier searches.
“They searched once, they searched twice, they searched numerous times in that area,” Kathy Graves said. “Why the dogs didn’t find anything? That doesn’t make sense.”
The Oceana County Medical Examiner ruled Kevin’s cause of death as undetermined, citing the decomposition of his remains due to years in the elements. There were no obvious signs of trauma, and Michigan State Police, who took over the investigation, stated that there were no signs of foul play. However, for Gary and Kathy Graves, these conclusions have done little to bring closure.
“We’re not done,” Kathy said, expressing frustration with the lack of clarity surrounding Kevin’s death. “I don’t think it’s the end of the story at all.”
In the wake of the report, Kevin’s parents have remained steadfast in their pursuit of justice. The Graves family plans to visit the site where Kevin’s remains were discovered, joining Michigan State Police in an effort to understand what led to his death and why he was found so close to the festival, an area that had previously been searched. They believe that someone holds the key to unraveling the mystery of their son’s final days.
“Somebody knows something,” Gary Graves said. “Somebody’s afraid to speak. And until somebody speaks up, it’s gonna keep going. We’re gonna be looking.”
The Graves family’s determination serves as a reminder of the emotional toll that unsolved cases take on those left behind. Though answers remain elusive, their search for justice continues. “Maybe one day, they’ll come forward or somebody will say something,” Kathy said, her voice hopeful yet tinged with the weight of the years spent searching. “I guess we’re looking for justice.”
