Mother, 2 boys killed in fire identified

News9.com

OLUSTEE, Okla. - The 20-year-old woman and two boys who died Wednesday in a house fire in southwest Oklahoma have been identified.

Medical Examiner Chief Investigator Kevin Rowland said the 20-year-old Laura Marez and her sons, 2-year-old Elijah Molina and 4-year-old Eliasar Marez, died of smoke inhalation after a fire destroyed their home Wednesday morning.

Firefighters from the Olustee, Altus and Martha fire departments were called to the house at about 11 a.m. and were told three people were trapped inside. After the firefighters extinguished the fire, they found the bodies, Olustee Police Chief Victor Martinez said.

Investigators are looking into why the three people were unable to escape.

According to Captain Jim Beavers of the Altus Fire Department, the bodies were found inside a bathroom near a window, which they would have been able to use to escape from the house.

Authorities said a faulty air conditioner started the fire.