News

Sheriff's office IDs victim who died at festival

By Bill Moss, Published: July 20, 2015

MILLS RIVER — The Henderson County Sheriff's Office has identified the man found unresponsive in a pond near the site of Transformus, a "Burning Man" type of festival, at Deerfields in Mills River. The man, who was pronounced dead after he was transported to Park Ridge Hospital, was identified as Jay Houston Marx, 35, of Annapolis, Md. Marx had recently been living in Tryon, the sheriff's office said.

Law enforcement officers and emergency personnel responded at 2 p.m. Sunday to a report of an unresponsive person in a pond at the Deerfields property. CPR efforts by on site emergency services workers began immediately but efforts to resuscitate Marx were unsuccessful. An autopsy is scheduled as the investigation continues, the sheriff's office said.

"On Sunday afternoon, a tragic accident occurred during Transformus," the Transformus organization said in a posting Monday morning on its Facebook page. "A participant was discovered unresponsive underwater at the lake. The emergency services staff on site promptly responded to provide aid. The man was then transported off the event site by ambulance emergency workers and taken to Park Ridge Hospital.
"We now have confirmation that while he was at the hospital he did pass away.
"We have and will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities involved. This is a terrible loss and our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and the Transformus community."

The four-day Transformus X was sold out, the organization said on its website.

Sheriff's Maj. Frank Stout said he could not provide details on the cause of death and the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the victim.

"We've got boots on the grounds trying to get answers to those questions," he said. 

In the past, Mills River residents have raised concerns about camping festivals at Deerfields, a privately run retreat at the far end of South Mills River Road.

"We have had multiple complaints in the past," Stout said. "We did not get a lot this year to be honest. We did have some concerns expressed because of past activities."

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