ROTHBURY, MI — The FBI is offering a $15,000 reward for information in the death of a newborn found in a portable toilet at the Electric Forest music festival in western Michigan. The agency has joined Michigan State Police in asking for help identifying, arresting and convicting the person or people responsible.
The infant was found on the morning of June 28, the final day of the four-day festival. Michigan State Police said the child was a neonate, meaning an infant in the first 28 days after birth, and preliminary autopsy findings indicated the baby was viable and born alive.
Newborn found during routine restroom maintenance
ABC News affiliate WZZM 13 in Grand Rapids reported that an employee with the restroom vending company made the discovery while conducting routine maintenance on the portable toilets in the festival campgrounds. Police said the baby was found dead, and the case quickly became a homicide investigation.
Electric Forest was held in Rothbury, a community near Lake Michigan in the western part of the state. The festival ran for four days, and the discovery came as the event was wrapping up.
Investigators say someone may know what happened
Michigan State Police said investigators believe there are people with important information who may be hesitant to come forward. The agency said it wants the public to help determine what happened to the infant and who may have been involved.
Police asked people not to speculate on social media while the investigation continues. In a statement, state police said they are confident that continued investigative work and forensic science will eventually identify the person responsible.
How to send tips to Michigan State Police
Authorities are urging anyone with information to report it through Michigan.gov/MichTip or by calling 1-855-MICH-TIP, which is 1-855-642-4847. The FBI Detroit Field Office is working alongside Michigan State Police on the case and is supporting the reward effort.
The reward is being offered as investigators try to move the case forward nearly a month after the discovery. Officials have not publicly identified any suspect and have not said who the baby’s parents are.
Festival organizers say they are heartbroken
Electric Forest said in a Facebook post that it is heartbroken by the tragedy and encouraged anyone with new information to contact police. The festival also urged the public to share tips with investigators rather than spread unverified claims online.
The response from organizers came as police continued asking for help from attendees, workers and anyone else who may have been near the campground restroom area at the time. The investigation remains open as authorities work to piece together the infant’s final hours.
What the autopsy findings mean for the case
State police said the preliminary autopsy findings show the infant was viable and born alive, which is a key fact in the ongoing investigation. The child was described by police as a neonate, a term for a baby in the first 28 days after birth.
That finding has sharpened the search for answers, but investigators have not released additional details about how the infant died or how long the baby had been in the restroom before being discovered. For now, the case centers on identifying anyone with direct knowledge of the death.