Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved (AP) ROME - The remains of American and German couples who died when the Costa Concordia capsized near a Tuscan island have been identified, several weeks after the bodies were found in the wreck of the cruise ship, Italian authorities said Tuesday. The Prefect's office from the Tuscan town of Grosseto, where the bodies were brought, also announced the identification of a fifth body, that of an Italian crewman from aboard the Italian luxury liner which struck a reef off the island of Giglio on Jan. 13 and capsized. Thirty-two people died, including two people whose bodies still haven't been found. The two U.S. victims — the only Americans who died in the accident — were identified as Barbara and Gerald Heil of White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Also identified were Christina Mathi Ganz and Norbert Josef Ganz of Muehlheim am Main of Germany, and Giuseppe Girolamo, the crew member. The German couple had just celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. John Heil, a son of the U.S. couple, said the family was declining to say anything about the identification when contacted by phone by The Associated Press. The U.S. Embassy in Rome, citing privacy concerns, declined to discuss plans for the transport of the Heils' remains. But the Embassy website posted a message of condolence. "We are grateful for the skill and courage of the Italian search teams who made such an effort to first rescue and then recover remains of the victims," the message said. "The entire U.S. Embassy would like to once again extend its condolences to the Heil family and to the friends and families of all the victims of this tragedy." Weather and sea conditions permitting, divers continue searching for the last missing passenger, an Italian woman, and an Indian crewman. Both are presumed dead. The Italian captain of the Concordia is under house arrest in his home near Naples while prosecutors investigate him and other ship and cruise line officials. Capt. Francesco Schettino is being investigated for alleged manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning the ship before all the 4,200 passengers and crew aboard it were evacuated. Prosecutors have said they suspect the captain deliberately steered his ship too close to Giglio island in a publicity stunt. The Concordia's hull was gashed by the rocky reef. Schettino insists the reef wasn't marked on the ship's navigational charts and denies that he abandoned ship, saying he continued to direct the evacuation. In audio registrations between Schettino and Italian coast guard officials, the captain appears to repeatedly resist pleas to go back aboard the ship and help carry out the evacuation. In the Heils' hometown, friends expressed relief to hear that the bodies of the couple have been identified. The couple were well known as active members of the local church. Gerald Heil would visit local woman Diane Vorland, confined to a wheelchair, every Thursday to bring communion and pray. And he drove a local man, Denny Hardy, on errands after the man lost his driver's license. Vorland said Tuesday that it's good news the Heils have been identified after so long, and that the news should give closure to the family. Hardy said it's nice knowing that the Heils are now safely in the hands of God. Copyright ©2025 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. By Debbie Emery - RadarOnline.com Reporter More than three months after the cruise ship Costa Concordia sank off the coast of Italy the two missing American passengers have been confirmed dead after their bodies were identified several weeks after they were found Barbara and Gerald Heil of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, were the only two U.S. victims to die in the accident that occurred on January 13 and on Tuesday their family confirmed their passing in an online statement reported local paper the Hastings Star Gazette “We will now be able to move forward and bring them home to rest,” read the Heil family blog “The rescue and recovery crew on the island of Giglio have been relentless in their mission to find the missing and have given us hope through this whole process.  “We cannot thank them enough for continuing to risk their lives in an effort to find our parents Our hearts go out to the two families that are still missing loved ones We will continue to hope and pray for closure for those families.” As RadarOnline.com previously reported the $450 million vessel crashed into a reef four miles off course near the island of Giglio Survivors described the chaos and panic on the ship as they desperately tried to escape, while Captain Francesco Schettino claimed he “tripped” into a lifeboat and was shuttled to safety Schettino remains on house arrest, despite denying he had anything to do with the disaster, which was reportedly the second time he’d crashed a cruise ship Also identified on Tuesday were Christina Mathi Ganz and Norbert Josef Ganz of Muehlheim am Main of Germany who had just celebrated their golden wedding anniversary Costa Concordia Was SECOND Cruise Ship Crashed By Captain Francesco Schettino Cruise Ship Victims File Lawsuit Demanding $460 Million Amid Outrage At $14,500 Compensation Offer Cruise Ship Disaster: Passengers Offered Compensation For Lost Baggage By entering your email and clicking Sign Up you’re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy Cruise Ship Disaster: Rich Russians Allegedly 'Bought A Life Boat' To Escape The New 'Titanic' -- Cruise Ship Costa Concordia Runs Aground Stunning New Photos Show Life Boats Fleeing From The Costa Concordia See The Horrifying Pictures From Inside The Wrecked Cruise Ship just one day before news broke that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are allegedly headed toward a divorce the singer was spotted house-hunting on her own in Beverly Hills Tom Cruise is living up to his Top Gun image by splashing a fortune choppering his new female “best pal” around Britain – after he “fell in love” with the way she's overcome her disability Opt-out of personalized ads A DIVISION OF MYSTIFY ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK INC Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service People may receive compensation for some links to products and services Offers may be subject to change without notice.