Investigators with the Emmet County Sheriff's Office are asking the public for help after a violent incident at the Blissfest Music Festival near Harbor Springs on Sunday, July 12.
According to the sheriff's office, Lonn Hartman sustained "severe lacerations to the neck area" while attending the festival. He was transported to a local hospital, where he is being treated for his injuries.
"At this stage of the investigation, it remains undetermined whether these injuries were self-inflicted or the result of an altercation involving another individual," the sheriff's office said in a news release issued Friday, July 17.
Hartman's family said on a GoFundMe page raising money for his "medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and legal fees" that they believe he was "violently assaulted" and are concerned the attack may have been a hate crime.
"Since the attack, we have struggled to get answers," the GoFundMe page states. "To date, there has been little public information about this incident, and we feel that many of our questions remain unanswered."
On Monday, investigators said the case remains a priority and is being handled with the "utmost importance." They said several pieces of evidence have been collected and sent to the Michigan State Police Crime Laboratory for forensic testing.
"Investigators have dedicated extensive time and resources to following leads, processing evidence and conducting interviews to determine exactly what occurred," the news release said.
The sheriff's office has established a dedicated tip line and email address for anyone with information about the incident.
- Email: blissfestinvestigation@emmetcounty.org
- Phone: 231-348-0605
- Emmet County Sheriff's Office mobile app
"It is critical that members of the public utilize these designated reporting methods when providing information related to this incident," the sheriff's office said. "Doing so helps ensure that regular Sheriff's Office communication lines remain available for emergency and routine business."
Officials also urged people not to spread rumors or misinformation online, saying doing so has led to an influx of irrelevant inquiries that are slowing the investigation.
We note the Blissfest Music Organization is a financial supporter of WCMU. We report on them as we do with any other organization.
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