Baby Found Floating In Ocean Brings $10K Reward

WEST PALM BEACH, FL — Days after making the grim discovery of a newborn baby girl floating naked in the Atlantic ocean, officials still have not been able to identify the child now called Baby June. But as the investigation enters its second week, Palm Beach County officials have posted a $10,000 reward. Investigators now believe the child was most likely born in a hospital and placed in the water somewhere in neighboring Broward County north of Miami and south of Palm Beach.

"The baby June case has really struck a nerve with me," explained Palm Beach County sheriff Ric Bradshaw on Friday. "It's incomprehensible to me that people out there that have information about this case have not come forward."

The baby was found on June 1 about 75 to 100 feet east of the shoreline at the Boynton Beach Inlet.

Bradshaw said his office decided to offer the reward since no one has stepped up to claim responsibility for Baby June.

"So, I am going to, at this time offer a $10,000 reward from the sheriff's office for anybody that will come forward with information leading us to the arrest of the people that have committed this horrific and horrible tragedy of an infant placed into the ocean," Bradshaw said.

Capt. Steven Strivelli of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Special Victims Unit told reporters that the Medical Examiner's Office determined that the Baby June was born between May 25 and 28 and was most likely between four and seven days old when she was found.

"Our best approximation was that the baby was floating in the water anywhere from six to 18 hours before discovery," Strivelli said. "Based on this, and several other factors, we now believe it may be possible for the child to have drifted up from as far south as Broward County."

Strivelli would not say if Baby June was already dead when she was placed in the ocean.

Genetic testing has confirmed that Baby June is not Caucasian or Asian.

"The most likely scenario being that the baby is either mixed race black or Hispanic," said Strivelli, who said that investigators have not ruled out that Baby June came from a migrant boat.

The child had marks on her heel consistent with newborn testing in a hospital.

"That doesn't necessarily mean the child was born in a hospital. From what we are being told, it is also possible that the child could have been born in a private birthing center, a midwife and then brought to a doctor's clinic or something of that effect where they would run the same tests," according to Strivelli. "While it is entirely likely the child was born in a hospital, we're not ruling out other things."

He added that investigators have received numerous tips in Palm Beach County but hoped to expand the number of tips in Broward County since the investigation is focusing there.

"We desperately need to talk to you," he said in a plea to Baby June's Parents. "We need to find out what happened. We're not going to go anywhere. We're here until we figure out what happened."

To report a tip, call a special hotline at 561-688-4155.

"I don't want to rule out anything but right now we're full steam ahead on Broward County," Strivelli added. "This is a morning noon and night venture. We're working with other agencies at this point. We're doing a lot."

Artist's rendering of Baby June courtesy Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office