This reporting is made possible by the Northern Michigan Journalism Collaborative, led by Bridge Michigan and Interlochen Public Radio, and funded by Press Forward Northern Michigan.
Six weeks after a man’s throat was cut at the usually peaceful Blissfest Music Festival in Harbor Springs, police still haven’t said whether the man was attacked or injured himself.
But that hasn’t stopped social media accusations from flying against police and the northern Michigan community that hosts the festival, leaving residents bewildered and investigators warning misinformation can make it harder to reach the truth.
“Information that is shared through unofficial sources, social media, or speculation can create confusion, cause unnecessary distress for those involved, and divert valuable investigative resources,” the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post on July 23.
Joann Condino, a business owner in nearby Cross Village, said that, with so few publicized facts, she doesn't know what to think of the incident.
“We certainly don’t want anyone harmed, especially not in our community or at Blissfest,” she said. “We wish him well.”
On July 12, 37-year-old Lonn Hartman was found on his campsite during Blissfest with “severe lacerations to his neck area,” according to police.
Hartman’s GoFundMe page, run by a social media influencer, says the family is concerned the injuries were the result of a hate crime, but the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office says investigators have found no evidence to suggest the incident was a targeted attack.
“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 wrote on a July 17 post.
Nonetheless, discourse on social media has only grown since that update, with Facebook users criticizing the Sheriff's Office for dismissing the possibility of a targeted attack so soon.
Social media has “amplified voices that may have previously gone unheard, and it's also allowed communities to share alternative perspectives about events as they unfold in real time,” said Jennifer Dungy, a criminal justice professor at Michigan State University.
However, she said, “two people can give very different facts and sometimes the truth is somewhere in between.”
‘A desire for accountability’
Public skepticism toward law enforcement — particularly in cases that involve people of color — has increased since the 2020 killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, Dungy said.
“George Floyd and others, along with nationwide protests that followed, really has prompted a lot of Americans to not just examine the role of police, but to critically examine the role of police and whether police practices are applied equitably across communities,” she said.
Dungy said it’s reasonable for community members to ask questions and to seek transparency in cases like this one.
“I will say that questioning how a case is handled, it's not the same as assuming wrongdoing, rather it really reflects a desire for accountability and transparency as well as fairness.”
The Emmet County Sheriff’s Office has not responded to requests for comment on this story. However, police’s latest reports say they are waiting for the final forensic analysis results.
“Meanwhile, the Sheriff's Office will remain in contact with Lonn Hartman’s family,” a Facebook post read. “Deputies are waiting until his condition improves before conducting a formal interview about what happened.”
Hartman’s family could not be reached to comment. He remains hospitalized.
‘This was a big deal’
When the incident became public shortly after it happened, it shocked volunteers and attendees at the 40-year-old festival known as a peaceful place where music, art and food from around the world are celebrated.
“Not that bad things don’t happen at music festivals, but this was a big deal,” said Nicole Foster, a volunteer for Blissfest.
Music festival organizers did not immediately make an announcement after Hartman was discovered with gashes across his neck.
Foster, who lives in Mt. Pleasant and attends the festival annually, said she wished people at Blissfest would’ve known sooner.
“I would have liked to see it addressed differently,” she said. “I hope that Blissfest organization has somebody that can look at a crisis response plan and consult how they might be able to handle that more effectively.”
Several other Blissfest-goers told WCMU they learned about the incident via social media days after the festival had concluded.
According to a written statement from the music organization, they did not immediately notify festival attendees because the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office said there was no indication that Hartman was attacked.
“Had we been advised that there was safety concern or threat to our community, we would have taken immediate action to protect our attendees, artists, volunteers and staff,” Blissfest wrote in a statement to WCMU.
Organizers also said their emergency protocols were activated immediately.
“Any event that disrupts the safety and joy of our gathering is something we take very seriously,” festival organizers wrote. “We have been focused on supporting those affected and on reflecting as an organization on how we can continue to uphold the welcoming environment our community expects and deserves.”
A Petoskey resident and longtime festival attendee who was camping near Hartman said he understands why the festival didn’t try to notify everyone.
Kam Culbertson said everyone around the scene seemed concerned yet calm. When he asked around, Culbertson said all he heard was that someone was hurt.
“And at that point, there was no real information,” Culbertson said. “At no time did I feel any danger or anything.”
Culbertson added that the rest of the day was normal — he let his teenagers roam around freely that day, with no concern for their safety.
“Blissfest is a kind and inclusive place,” Culbertson said. “You know, there's no hate in people's hearts there. There just is not.”
Foster and other festival attendees told WCMU they are worried that this will taint the public’s view of the festival in future years.
“The incident has deeply affected our entire Blissfest family — our staff, our volunteers, our artists, and the broader community that has supported this festival for decades,” Blissfest organizers told WCMU.
The music organization decided to cancel a summer event scheduled for late July. In a statement on social media, they said:
“Our hearts are with everyone impacted, and pausing this week’s event is the most compassionate step forward.”
This reporting is made possible by the Northern Michigan Journalism Collaborative, led by Bridge Michigan and Interlochen Public Radio, and funded by Press Forward Northern Michigan.
