The remains of a man who vanished at a Michigan music festival more than six years ago have finally been found — just 100 yards from where he had camped, according to his family.
Kevin Graves was 28 when his girlfriend reported him missing after they argued at the Electric Forest music festival in Rothbury in July 2018, according to cops and his dad, who was worried his son might abuse drugs at the festival.
His family never gave up hope he’d be found, handing out flyers at the same festival the next year and even putting up billboards seeking help.
Graves’ remains have finally been found and identified Thursday through dental records, Michigan State Police confirmed — only further frustrating his grieving family that they were randomly discovered so close to where he vanished.
“It was 100 yards from his campsite and hunters found human remains,” his sister Kellie Graves told WOOD-TV.
“I think his clothes were still there and they found his wallet and cellphone as well,” she said, adding to the mystery of how they could have been missed for so many years.
“Where was this six years ago when we said he didn’t just run away? I mean they could have pulled phone records, they could’ve pinged his phone,” she asked.
“We would not have had to wait six and a half years for this and it’s really frustrating.”
Kellie Graves said that while “the closure feels good” to know her brother’s fate, “that hope we had that he might turn up one day is gone and it’s very sad and my parents are really struggling.”
The cause of death has not been determined — but police do not suspect foul play.
“I am going to miss his smile,” his sister said of the “happy-go-lucky” guy with “the biggest heart.”
Cops and Graves’ family previously said he argued with his girlfriend before he vanished. But his dad, Gary Graves, previously said his biggest worry had been that “there would be drugs and stuff” at the festival.
“I told him, you know, ‘Be careful. Don’t get yourself hooked up on something that you’re going to regret,’” the dad told Local 4 in 2019
“He said, ‘No, I’m just going to go up there and have a good time, Dad.’”
The dad also previously recalled getting an ominous text from his son the day he disappeared.
“All it said was, ‘Dad, I love you for your service. I love you and someday I will pay you back everything I owe you,’” Gary Graves said.
“That was the last thing I heard from him. I texted him back and I never got any answers back.”
Police do not appear to have addressed why his remains were not found during earlier searches.
