ARSON CASE DNA tests help to identify victims of apartment fire

COLUMBUS (AP) -- Investigators confirmed Thursday the identities of the remaining five victims of an apartment arson fire that killed 10 people, after a weekslong process that included DNA testing.
Franklin County Coroner Brad Lewis identified the victims as brothers Geraldo Mejia Diaz, 25, and Jose Cruz Mejia, 27; their cousin, Jose De La Luz Mejia Diaz, 20; and brothers Jose Enrique Castro Aldana, 24, and Moises Castro Aldana, 27.
Lewis said the identification of the men was delayed as authorities waited to receive DNA samples from family members in Mexico.
The other five victims of the Sept. 12 fire -- a husband and wife from Mexico and their three young American-born children -- were identified about two weeks after the blaze.
The state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation used DNA samples from those victims' bodies to determine the relationship between the couple and their children.
No arrests have been made.
All 10 of the victims died of burns and smoke inhalation, but their injuries were too severe for visual identification or fingerprinting, and dental records weren't available.
"DNA is usually the last resort because of the time and expense involved," Lewis said Thursday.
Family members have said two of the men killed were brothers of the female victim, and a third was her nephew. The other two men were family friends.
Lewis confirmed that the three Mejia men were related to the woman but couldn't confirm what their specific relationship was to her.