A series of alarming events has unfolded in Smyrna, beginning with a church burglary and arson, followed closely by a fatal apartment fire now under investigation as a homicide. In the early morning hours of August 27, Smyrna firefighters responded to an alarm at the Celestial Church of Christ. Upon arrival, they discovered signs of arson, with light smoke emanating from a broken window, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
Investigation efforts quickly identified a suspect, Anthony Harris of Austell, who was subsequently arrested. "Once the fire investigators arrived on scene, it was pretty clear to us the fire had been intentionally set," Smyrna Fire Deputy Chief Dustin Davey told FOX 5 Atlanta. Authorities allege that Harris used spiritual clothes, furniture, and lamp oil to purposely start the fire. He purportedly also stole $2,500 from the church's safe, along with religious robes and sashes.
Meanwhile, another distressing incident took place when Smyrna firefighters were called to an apartment fire at 810 Windy Hill Road around 4:15 a.m., as reported by WSB-TV. After extinguishing the flames at Beckett Park Apartments, a woman, yet to be identified, was found dead. The nature of the scene prompted authorities to deem her death suspicious and launch a homicide investigation.
The Smyrna Police Department, alongside the Smyrna Fire Marshal’s Office, is currently handling the inquiry. A fire department spokesperson, constrained by the ongoing investigation, could not comment on what specifically led authorities to suspect foul play. Further details are awaited as the Smyrna community grapples with the shock of these two separate but sinister events in such close succession.
