Mayor Adrian Fenty announced this morning that Banita Jacks’ four murdered daughters have been positively identified through a mix of dental records and DNA analysis. The victims can now be confirmed to be Brittany Jacks, Tatiana Jacks, N’Kiah Fogle and Aja Fogle, all sisters between the ages of 5 and 16. All four decomposed bodies were discovered Jan. 9 in their home on the 4200 block of Sixth Street SE.

In a press release earlier this afternoon, the mayor’s office said that the medical examiner has ruled that the cause of all four deaths is “undetermined,” though all four have officially been ruled homicides.

All toxicology reports were negative. A final ruling on the time of death can not be determined until the entomology report is finalized. The death certificates for the four girls were signed this morning and the family members were notified.

The bodies of the four girls cannot be released to the family until the public defender has had the opportunity to obtain its own expert opinion on the manner of death and identification. Mayor Fenty has committed to assist in arrangements and to help defray the cost of any funeral for the four girls using constituent services funds, but is awaiting direction from the family.

It’s not clear when the entomology report in question will be completed, or if nailing down the times of death could help determine exact causes.

Photo of Mayor Adrian Fenty at the Jacks crime scene by the Associated Press