COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- With every diploma handed out this spring, investigators worry they will lose information those graduates might have about who set a rooming house fire a year ago that killed five college students.
``When they leave, some of the people may never come back to Columbus,'' said homicide Detective Mike McCann. ``We have been under the gun to get in contact with these people before they leave.''
Investigators continue trying to make a case in the April 13 fire that started after a 21st birthday party at the house just off the main drag of Ohio State University, the nation's second-largest campus.
Three students were saved by firefighters who had to crawl under dense blankets of smoke. The flames blackened everything but the brick of the yellow three-story house in the tree-lined student neighborhood.
About three months later a suspect was arrested on aggravated murder and arson charges. However, prosecutors dropped the charges, saying detectives needed more time to pursue leads and build a stronger case with direct or eyewitness evidence.
The evidence could include anyone who may have seen someone preparing to start the fire or overhearing someone talk about setting the fire.
``Each year there's less and less people around who were involved and know about it,'' said Patty Dennis, whose daughter, Andrea, died in the fire.
A $35,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and indictment and investigators have collected about 100 tips.
In hopes of drumming up new leads, Central Ohio Crime Stoppers has put up three billboards near campus and plans to erect two more. They display a photo collage of the victims and the message: ``Last year five students received death by fire. The arsonist received nothing. Who is responsible?''
``We didn't want it to be threatening. We want it to be emotional,'' said Kevin Miles, director of the anti-crime organization.
Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said police were still investigating Robert Lucky Patterson, the man arrested and then released, along with others.
Police have said that Patterson, 21, has a history of setting fires and was in the area breaking into cars the night of the fire.
One fire investigator said all that's lacking is direct evidence linking him to the blaze.
``We feel our suspect is the right person and the issue is they feel they don't have enough evidence to win the case at trial,'' said Capt. Steve Saltsman, who supervises the fire investigations unit.
Patterson's father, Ron, has said that his son was innocent and was singled out because authorities wanted to close the case.
Robert Patterson could not be reached for comment. He was charged Wednesday with stealing jewelry from a family friend he lived with in November, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Patterson was arrested Saturday in Marietta, in southeast Ohio, on the theft charge and was being held in jail, said police Sgt. R.D. Kampmeier. A hearing to set bond was scheduled for Monday.
Greg Gorbett, a private fire and explosion analyst in Sarasota, Fla., said arson investigators often have to build a case on a lot of circumstantial evidence.
``If they have eyewitnesses, that would help tremendously,'' he said.
For the families of the victims, waiting for answers does not get any easier.
``It's a whole different life without Andrea,'' Dennis said. ``If it's your child and someone you love, you just can't let it rest.''
Three of the victims - Andrea Dennis, Erin DeMarco and Christine Wilson - were students at Ohio University in Athens and were visiting Columbus for the party. Victims Kyle Raulin and Alan Schlessman lived at the rooming house with 10 other Ohio State students.
Hours before the fire, about 80 students danced, chatted and drank beer, celebrating Schlessman's 21st birthday. He was affectionately called ``Big Al'' for his big heart and loving nature.
``In one sense, it's like it just happened. In the other sense it was like it was a long, long time ago,'' said his mother, Lori Schlessman.
Dennis remembers screaming after she learned of her daughter's death just as she came home from church.
``I didn't even realize it, but I didn't get my purse out of the car for two weeks,'' she said. ``I didn't go anywhere. I just sat on the couch, and people came to me to visit.''
Days later, Dennis had to sort through a green garbage bag filled with her daughter's belongings.
``Everything was damp and it smelled like a combination of smoke and apple, because she had some kind of apple essence shampoo that spilled a little bit.''
``And now I can't even stand that smell anymore, that apple smell.''
The parents have lived through their greatest fear. The mothers support each other through regular letters, e-mails and phone calls.
Janet Raulin said she fears the arsonist could strike again.
``It's too late for Kyle, Alan and the girls, but if this were to happen to somebody else, it would really be unthinkable,'' she said.
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