The Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office has today confirmed the identity of the second body that was found in a Milford body shop after it burned on Feb. 13.
The male body found by firefighters was located within the first floor of the structure. The remains have been determined to be that of Jose Medina, 310 N. Higbee Street, Milford. Medical examiners of the Northeast Indiana Forensic Center determined that Medina died of smoke inhalation. DNA testing performed by the Indiana State Police lab, located in Fort Wayne, found that the remains are a 99.9% conclusive match to that of Jose Medina.
Firefighters had also located a second individual in the fatal fire that was previously determined to be that of Annalu Nunez. Nunez was also determined to have died of smoke inhalation according to Kosciusko County Coroner Michael Wilson.
The cause and origin of the fire was ruled as accidental on Feb. 17 by investigators from the Kosciusko County Fire Investigation Team and the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office. Evidence was found at the scene indicating an electrical malfunction in the wiring that supplied power to a ceiling light.