Coroner: Mother son drowned, Rolesville car before fire

Medical officials have determined Kristy Bryan and his son, Tyler W. Bryan, 3, were found dead in their home Rolesville on December 11, died of strangulation.

In January, police determined that the case was a murder-suicide, and an autopsy did not change that conclusion.

Autopsies of the couple, released Tuesday, indicate both suffered "ligature strangulation and thermal injury." They were found side by side in bed at his home Roles 6205 Saddle Drive.

A black and tan, ligation consisting of interlocking plastic zip-ties is surrounded by the collar of Tyler Bryan; pieces of melted plastic were found in the left and right lateral neck Bryan Kristy, according to the report of the autopsy.

A gas can was found in the house, and the investigation revealed that the fire started in the master bedroom and was the result of an intentional spread of a flammable fluid, according to a press release.

"There is no sign of forced entry or struggle at home. Fire investigators concluded, based on evidence that the fire was started by Mrs. Bryan," the statement said.

According to a search warrant unsealed, authorities found pills, tie wraps at the end of a lighter, the computer inside the house team. "Unfortunately, in these situations, there are often questions we can not answer," he said Wake County District Attorney District Lorrin Freeman. "We have to rely on the evidence as it is ... at this time, we are confident with the conclusion that we have reached."

Another child, 6 years old, lived in the house, but had gone to school before the fire started. Twin brother Bryan Tyler was taken to hospitals in the UNC.

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