WPBN: The remains of a man who was reported missing in the state of Michigan in 2018 have been discovered, according to the state police.
The Michigan State Police have confirmed that the human remains that were discovered in a forested area close to Rothbury, which is the location of the annual Electric Forest music festival, belong to Kevin Graves.
The announcement of the discovery of human remains dated back several days.
On Thursday, January 2, Michigan State Police’s Sixth District tweeted, “Detectives from the Michigan State Police (MSP) Hart Post have confirmed that human remains located Monday, December 30, 2024, are that of Kevin Graves, of Highland Township, Oakland County.”
“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, stated. “Not much more we can say except that at least now we can have a little peace.”
Gary provided an update on Kevin’s disappearance from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office in an interview that was featured on MLive earlier that day.
Before his ex-girlfriend filed a missing person’s report on July 3, 2018, Kevin, who would have been 34, was last seen on July 1, 2018, at the Electric Forest music event in Rothbury, Oceana County.
Gary said police were “99 percent sure” that Kevin was the owner of the remains found by two hunters on private property close to the festival grounds on Monday, December 30.
Gary told the publication on Wednesday, January 1, “They said they found his wallet, his phone, and he had a (festival) wristband on.” “They’ll get back to us after they complete an autopsy, dental records, and everything else.”
“If there is confirmation that it is indeed (Kevin Graves), we will start working on additional information to determine how he ended up there from where he was last seen and what was the manner and cause of death,” said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard.
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A couple reported to police during his disappearance investigation that they saw Kevin fighting with his fiancée and that he left crying just before he vanished.
Since then, his family has put up billboards close to the festival grounds requesting information. They have also given officials access to Kevin’s dental records and DNA samples to aid in the investigation.
Lead detective Sgt. David Bach of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office visited Gary and his wife Kathy Graves, 67, on December 31 with the new information.
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“All of a sudden, he said what he said and my wife collapsed,” Gary stated. “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.”
Prior searches for Kevin were considered fruitless until the two hunters recently discovered the remains while raking a route.
“With the dogs and everything they claim they had running around there looking, I can’t see how we missed him,” Gary stated. “But I can’t say for sure until I know exactly where it was at.”
The distraught father expressed his hope that the family will find closure through the upcoming actions.
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