FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Twelve months of investigative work has done little to determine the identity of the infant known as "Baby June" or figure out how she got into the ocean before being discovered off the Boynton Beach Inlet.
"Since this case has been under investigation we've received a total of 22 tips from the public, nothing has produced any further leads for us," Palm Beach Sheriff's Capt. Steven Strivelli said during a news conference Friday.
It was Friday, June 1, 2018, when the infant's body was found by an off-duty firefighter who was out boating.
"We do not suspect the child was put into the water in Boynton Beach," Strivelli said.
Lacking an identity, officials quickly began referring to the child as Baby June. It's believed she was put into the water somewhere in northern Broward County.
During the ensuing year, investigators have determined the child was no more than 14 days old when she was found and had probably been in the water for less than a day.
In late November the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner ruled the case a homicide.
By that time, investigators had already examined the birth records of 700 infants born in Palm Beach and Broward counties during the likely birth time of Baby June and came up with no obvious leads.
Because of her cut umbilical cord and a heel prick, detectives concluded that the child had been born in a hospital or birthing center. But where and exactly when remain unknown.
"We still need the assistance of the public," Strivelli said.
Investigators are continuing to probe genetic links to Baby June to find family members "but so far we have received nothing at all from this," he said.
Initial genetic testing has already determined that the baby is about 50% Central Asian and 50% African _ suggesting places such as Barbados, Trinidad or Jamaica for her possible heritage.
If nothing else, detectives are hoping the $10,000 reward being offered by the Sheriff's Office will help unravel the mystery of Baby June.
At Friday's news conference, Strivelli was flanked by PBSO Special Victims Unit Detective Brian Hansen who is assigned to what investigators say has become a cold case.
"We are not currently actively working any leads because we don't have anything to work on," Strivelli said.
"But this case is always going to be on our radar and will never go away. It will never close until we conclude it," he said.
