The FBI is offering a $15,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the death of a newborn found inside a portable toilet at a popular Michigan music festival.
The reward was announced weeks after the infant’s body was discovered June 28 in a porta-potty located in the camping area of the Electric Forest Festival, Michigan State Police said Monday.
Authorities said the baby was a neonate — a term used for an infant younger than 28 days old — and was found by an employee of a restroom services company who was performing maintenance.
Preliminary autopsy findings showed the newborn had been born alive and was viable, police said.
Investigators previously interviewed a woman in Muskegon who had attended the four-day festival and was believed to have information “relevant to the investigation,” according to police.
Officials said the woman fully cooperated with investigators and has since been ruled out as a suspect.
The FBI’s Detroit Field Office said Monday that it is assisting Michigan State Police in the case and is offering the $15,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the newborn’s death.
The sold-out Electric Forest Festival took place at Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury and featured dozens of electronic dance music 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
