# FBI Offers $15,000 Reward After Autopsy Confirms Newborn Found Dead in Michigan Festival Porta-Potty Was Born Alive
**ROTHBURY, Mich.** — A disturbing case out of West Michigan has taken a grim new turn after investigators confirmed that a newborn found dead inside a portable restroom at a popular music festival last month was, in fact, born alive. The revelation has prompted the FBI to step into the case, offering a $15,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.
## Infant Discovered During Festival Cleanup
The infant’s body was ,discovered June 28 inside a portable restroom at the Electric Forest Music Festival in Rothbury,, a four-day electronic music gathering held annually at the Double JJ Resort in the western part of the state. According to investigators, ,the body was found by an employee of the portable restroom vendor during routine maintenance, in the festival’s general camping area, on what happened to be ,the final day of the event, which began on June 25,.
Michigan State Police say the infant, ,believed to be less than four weeks old,, was classified by investigators as a ,”neonate,” an infant in the first 28 days after birth,. Authorities have not disclosed the baby’s sex or released a cause of death, and as of early this week, they had not identified any suspects.
## Autopsy Findings Escalate the Investigation
For nearly two weeks after the discovery, the case appeared to be a somber but relatively quiet inquiry. That changed this week when state police confirmed the findings of a completed autopsy. ,Officials said earlier this month that an autopsy on the body had been completed, and on Monday, they confirmed that the autopsy’s preliminary findings indicate the infant was viable and alive at birth.,
That determination — that the child had the capacity to survive outside the womb and was breathing at the time of birth — transforms the nature of the investigation. Michigan State Police acknowledged the sensitivity of the case, noting that ,investigators are unable to discuss many aspects of the case in order to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation,. ,A cause of death has not been released as of early this week.,
Despite the gravity of the finding, ,authorities have not ruled the case a homicide at this time,, and ,the case remains under active investigation,.
## FBI Joins the Case With Reward Money
In a sign of how seriously investigators are treating the case, the FBI’s Detroit Field Office announced this week that it is now formally assisting Michigan State Police. ,The FBI is offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the person or people responsible for the death of the newborn, with the bureau’s Detroit Field Office assisting Michigan State Police in the investigation.,
Investigators believe someone out there holds the key to solving the case but may be hesitant to speak up. In a statement posted to social media, Michigan State Police wrote that ,”investigators believe there are individuals with important information relevant to this case who may be reluctant to come forward,” adding that “the MSP continues to seek the public’s assistance and encourages anyone with information to report it.”,
State police also expressed confidence that the case will ultimately be cracked. ,”We are confident that continued investigative efforts, combined with forensic science, will ultimately lead to the identification of the person responsible,” state troopers said.,
Earlier in the investigation, police pursued at least one lead tied to a festival attendee. ,MSP officials previously said investigators received a tip regarding a female from the Muskegon area who attended Electric Forest and was believed to have information rel,ated to the case; that individual has reportedly cooperated with authorities, though it remains unclear whether she has been ruled out as a person of interest.
## Festival Organizers React
Electric Forest, the event’s organizers, issued a statement expressing sorrow over the tragedy. In a Facebook post, the festival wrote that it is ,”heartbroken” by the tragic event, and urged attendees and staff with any relevant information to come forward to police.
Meanwhile, investigators have specifically asked that the public refrain from speculating about the case on social media while the investigation continues, cautioning that unverified rumors could hinder the search for answers.
## How to Report Information
Anyone with information related to the infant’s death or the identity of the parents is urged to contact Michigan State Police through its tip line at ,1-855-MICH-TIP (1-855-642-4847), or submit tips online at Michigan.gov/MichTip,. Tips can also be directed to the nearest FBI field office.
As the investigation continues, authorities say the newly confirmed autopsy findings only heighten the urgency to identify those responsible and determine exactly what happened to the infant in the hours surrounding the birth. With a reward now on the table and federal investigators lending their resources to the case, Michigan authorities say they remain hopeful that new leads will soon emerge — bringing the case closer to resolution and, potentially, justice for the child.