HART, Mich. — A Michigan man has stepped forward in a Michigan courtroom to offer a dignified burial for an infant girl found dead in a portable toilet at the Electric Forest Music Festival, even as investigators say they are making headway in identifying the child's mother.
Travis Byrnes, an Ottawa County resident and father of two, testified Thursday in Oceana County Probate Court, describing himself as a “net under the bridge” to ensure the baby receives a proper Christian burial. His petition comes as the investigation into the infant's death continues to progress, according to Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon.
“Based on what we have accomplished so far in the investigation — I should say the detectives because they're the ones doing the work — we are very confident we'll be able to make an identification at some point,” Bizon told Nexstar's WOOD. “We have every reason to believe the detectives are on the right path in getting to where we need to be.”
The baby was discovered by a cleaning crew on the final day of the festival, held annually at the Double J Resort in Rothbury, about an hour northwest of Grand Rapids. The placenta and umbilical cord were still attached, and an autopsy determined the infant lived for only one minute, according to a death certificate filed with the Oceana County Clerk.
Michigan State Police have remained tight-lipped about the investigation, but forensic genetic genealogy is likely to play a key role in identifying the parents. The FBI offered a $15,000 reward in mid-July for information leading to an arrest. Genealogists are building the infant's family tree in reverse by comparing her DNA against millions of samples on ancestry websites where users have consented to law enforcement access.
“The detectives are very familiar with the technologies, the techniques that are being used,” Bizon said. “They know what they're doing, and they're going to get this done.”
During Thursday's hearing, Judge Eric Fox expressed concern about potential relatives who may be unaware of the child's existence. “There may be family members identified for this infant who may have an interest in a certain outcome,” Fox said. “They may have rituals and practices they'd like to observe. So, I'd like to know who the parents are before determining this is an unclaimed body.”
Byrnes, appearing via Zoom, told the judge he had arranged for VanderLaan Funeral Home in Hudsonville and a Jenison-area church and cemetery to handle the service and burial. He assured the court the remains would not be cremated, a key point for the prosecution. “Whatever the court decides the prosecutor needs, the medical examiner, any stipulation, anything at all, absolutely,” Byrnes said.
Dr. Rudy Ochs, Oceana County's coroner for more than three decades, testified that releasing the infant's remains would not compromise future evidentiary needs. Oceana County Undersheriff Ryan Schiller also noted that the sheriff's office victim advocacy unit had offered to cover burial costs and provide a headstone at a local cemetery.
The case has drawn attention amid broader political debates over crime and public safety. In Michigan's closely watched Senate race, candidates have sparred over issues ranging from polling leads to policy proposals, but this tragedy remains a local focus. Prosecutor Bizon said there is no timeline for identifying the mother, but he remains optimistic. “This case is progressing in a positive path forward towards where we want to be,” he said. “We do believe we're going to be able to resolve this.”
