The FBI is now offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the death of a newborn whose body was found in a porta-potty at a popular Michigan music festival.
The new reward comes weeks after the dead infant was discovered in a portable restroom in the camping area of the Electric Forest Festival on June 28, the Michigan State Police announced on Monday.
The baby — a neonate, meaning younger than 28 days — was found by an employee of a restroom vending company carrying out maintenance.
Preliminary autopsy results revealed the newborn was born viable and alive, police confirmed.
Investigators interviewed a woman in Muskegon who attended the annual four-day festival and was believed to have information “relevant to the investigation,” police said.
The woman was “fully cooperative” and has since been eliminated as a suspect in the case.
The FBI’s Detroit Field Office separately announced on Monday it was assisting the Michigan State Police with the investigation and would offer the $15,000 reward for the identification, arrest, and conviction of the person or people responsible for the newborn’s death.
The sold-out festival was hosted at Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury and featured dozens of EDM acts.
Michigan State Police said in a statement on X that they are “confident” that continued investigative efforts and forensic science will lead them to a suspect.
“Investigators believe there are individuals with important information relevant to this case who may be reluctant to come forward,” police said.
Anyone with information regarding the newborn’s death is urged to contact the Michigan State Police by calling 1-855-MICHTIP, contact their local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or submit a tip online at http://tips.fbi.gov.
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