BANGOR (AP) — Authorities said Wednesday they now consider the deaths of three people inside a burning Rhode Island-tagged car to be homicides.

The bodies were discovered inside the 2001 white Pontiac sedan early Monday that was burning in the parking lot of a business in Bangor. The vehicle was destroyed by the flames.

Investigators initially called the case suspicious, but began treating it as a homicide investigation on Wednesday, said spokeswoman Brenda Kielty of the state Attorney General’s office.

Autopsies were being conducted and a number of local people speculated whether a relative or friend had been among the victims. Kielty said she expected it would be two or three days before the names are made public.

“As soon as their IDs are confirmed, then their names will be released,” Kielty said.

People who feared their relatives are among the victims have been going to Bangor police with questions, some offering DNA samples that might lead to answers, Sgt. Paul Edwards said. They included people with missing children, or brothers or sisters who have not been seen recently, he said.

“We’re just taking those names and waiting for the results of DNA and toxicology (tests) from the Medical Examiner’s Office,” Edwards told WLBZ-TV in Bangor.

The station reported that the victims had left a party and gotten into the car before it caught fire. Police were investigating a surveillance video showing someone running from the scene, and another video showing the headlights of cars passing just minutes before the car burst into flames.