While the death of a woman following a fire inside her Bel Air home in February was initially deemed suspicious, investigators now believe no foul play was involved.

Kathleen M. Ellis, 44, was rescued from her burning home in the 1200 block of Kirby Circle on Feb. 23. She was taken to the hospital where she later died. An autopsy confirmed her death was caused by smoke inhalation and investigators found no evidence that foul play contributed to her death, according to a release issued by the state fire marshal's office Tuesday.

Investigators believe the fire started when a lit cigarette ignited bedding materials inside the bedroom where deputies found Ellis, according to the release.

Her death was at first investigated as suspicious, a Harford County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman said at the time.

Around 12:13 a.m. Feb. 23, Harford County emergency operations dispatched the call to Kirby Circle address after the 911 call disconnected.

The woman on the line was hyperventilating and said she "was raped today," then, "he's going to…"

The line went dead before the woman finished her statement.

When sheriff's deputies arrived at the home in the Foxborough Farms neighborhood, they saw smoke coming from the house and requested fire company response.

Inside, deputies found Ms. Ellis unconscious in a bedroom on the second floor. They took her outside and began CPR. She was taken by ambulance to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air for treatment of smoke inhalation and thermal burn injuries; she died the next day.

Abingdon and Bel Air volunteer fire fighters controlled the flames, which caused $40,000 in damages, within 10 minutes.

The sheriff's office and fire marshal's office launched a joint investigation into the death.

The investigation led to the conclusion that Ms. Ellis' death was caused by smoke inhalation not violence.