Autopsy today on Bonnaroo site body

Wednesday, June 17, 2009


By:
Todd South (Contact)

BONNAROO DEATHS

* 2004: Brandon Taylor, 20, and Amber Lynn Stephens, 22, die in separate drug-related incidents.

* 2005: David Ottman, 32, dies of a methadone overdose while attending the festival.

* 2006: Josh Overall, 21, is struck and killed by Ricky Skaggs' tour bus as he walks on Interstate 24.

* 2007: Cody L. Conover, 25, is rushed to a Manchester hospital where he is dead on arrival.

* 2009: Cleaning crew workers find the body of a white man in his 20s in a tent on the grounds.

Source: Newspaper archives

Autopsy information could be available today on a body found Tuesday at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival campgrounds.

Cleaning crew workers found the body of a white man in his 20s in a single tent on the 700-acre festival grounds, according to Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves.

The body was not immediately identified, but a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Medical Examiner's Office in Nashville said the autopsy likely would begin this morning.

Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves said there does not appear to be any foul play and it was unclear if the man was a festival attendee or one of the workers on the cleaning crew.

"There are still about 200 workers out there cleaning up," the sheriff said.

Deputies are investigating but have concluded that the man was alive at 3 p.m. Monday and did not die during the festival, the sheriff said.

This is at least the sixth death since the event began eight years ago.

A 22-year-old woman and a 20-year-old Michigan man died from drug-related causes at Bonnaroo in 2004, according to newspaper archives. A 32-year-old Huntsville, Ala., man died of an apparent methadone overdose at the 2005 concert.

After his 2006 performance country singer Ricky Skagg's tour bus struck and killed a 21-year-old Ohio man as he was walking on Interstate 24 near an exit to the concert.

A 25-year-old man died after being rushed to the hospital at the 2007 concert.

Sheriff Graves said most deaths in the past have been drug related.

Police conduct undercover drug buys and random searches at the entrance to the event. Concert organizers stress hydration and warn against illegal activities at the often hot and humid outdoor festival.

Sheriff Graves said there have not been any calls about a missing person, which might help identify the man.

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