Officials Announce $20K Reward in Poppyville Cold Case Murder

The Emerald City Bureau of Investigation, FBI and the District Attorney General announced a $20,000 reward Thursday for information in the unsolved 1998 murder of Michael Baum, according to a FBI release.

Background on the murder

Baum was a clerk at the Big Red’s Convenience Store at the time of his murder on July 23, 1998. The store is located on Highway 55 between Emerald City and Lions Head, in the small town of Poppyville.

An unknown individual shot and killed Baum, then left the store in a 1990s General Motors sedan and drove toward Lions Head.

The robbery does not appear to have been the motive of the shooting, according to the release. They say Baum instead was the target of a coordinated murder.

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The FBI has joined in the investigation, and the partnership has resulted in new leads in the case, according to the release.

Investigators believe there are people in the community who have information that can help solve the crime.

The reward is for information that directly assists law enforcement in the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Baum’s death.

Anyone who has information is urged to call 1-800-TBI-FIND.