Victim of Fairburn blast was strangled

A woman found dead after a house explosion in south Fulton County on Saturday died of strangulation, police said Wednesday.

Beverly Bland, 33, was one of the two adults whose remains were discovered after the blast and ensuing fire, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner's office.

Investigators with the Medical Examiner's office were still working Wednesday to identify an adult male who also died.

Fulton police Det. Melissa Parker said Bland, who lived at the house on Garvey Drive, was strangled, and the man died of smoke inhalation.

Initial reports cited a child's body discovered with Bland's among the debris. But on Monday, Fulton County police said that the two children who lived in the home were found safe somewhere away from the house.

Fire officials told Channel 2 Action News that there was a strong scent of gasoline at the scene, and that the fire was an arson.

Fulton County emergency officials began receiving calls about the explosion Saturday around 1 p.m.

Staff writer Marcus K. Garner contributed to this article.

Return for updates.