The second tragic victim of a fire that claimed the life of Melbourne woman Katie Tangey has been revealed as a beloved pet.
Golden retriever Sunny was trapped alongside Ms Tangey when fire engulfed her brother’s home in Truganina, in Melbourne’s west.
Ms Tangey had been looking after Sunny and minding her brother’s home while he enjoyed his honeymoon.
Heartbroken Ethan and Brooke Tangey immediately returned to Melbourne after they were alerted to the tragedy that killed Ms Tagey and the dog and gutted their home.
Now a Gofundme appeal has revealed the full extent of the disaster’s affect on Ms Tangey’s brother and sister-in-law.
‘In the early hours on Thursday January 16, whilst only days into their honeymoon, a time meant to be filled with happiness and love, an absolute tragedy occurred,’ fundraiser organiser Jason Steele stated.
‘The unfortunate and absolutely undeserving victims of an arson attack that took their home and all of their belongings, and more importantly Ethan’s sister and Brooke’s sister in law, Katie Tangey and their loving and one of a kind Golden Retriever child Sunny.’
Ethan and Brooke Tangey and their beloved dog Sunny, who perished alongside Mr Tangey’s sister in a senseless arson attack
Mr Steele described the couple as ‘the most beautiful and wholesome people’.
‘We are asking all who love them to donate to help them rebuild their lives and help them honour the memories of their beautiful sister Katie and cherished Golden Sunny,’ he told well wishers.
‘Having to replace a home from scratch is difficult but if we all pull together we can help lighten the load on Brooke and Ethan.’
Ms Tangey had acted as bridesmaid at her brother’s wedding just weeks before she was burned alive in the alleged arson attack and posed alongside her brother and his new wife.
The fundraiser is now hoping bighearted locals will help get the Tangey family back on their feet.
‘We wholeheartedly ask their family, friends and the wider community to please come together to support them through this difficult time with any donation small or large,’ the fundraiser asks.
‘Your generosity will help them to rebuild and gain access to necessities and assist financially in what can only be described as a time of tragedy.
Katie Tangey (far right) had acted as bridesmaid at her brother’s wedding
‘Brooke and Ethan are two of the most incredibly beautiful people who are experiencing incredible loss that nobody should ever have to bear and we encourage everybody to come together to assist and help them honour Katie and Sunny.’
Police believe she was killed by alleged arsonists who attacked the wrong target.
Those offenders remain at large as police work desperately to bring them to justice.
Ms Tangey had made a desperate triple-0 call shortly after 2am, telling the operator she was trapped in the burning house in Dover Street and could not escape.
The 27-year old had been a talented burlesque performer, photographer and make-up artist.
In an interview she conducted in 2023, Ms Tangey spoke of her childhood passion for make-up, which carried on for the remainder of her life.
‘It was just something I wanted to keep learning about and get more experience and everything like that. Make-up really was my drive for a lot of the stuff that I do now,’ she said.
Such was the intensity of the blaze that crews were unable to quell the flames until two hours later when a search of the property was made, and her body was found.
Katie Tangey died in a targeted attack in what is believed to have been a case of mistaken identity
Ms Tangey had no way of escaping the inferno
All that remained of the Dover Street property
A separate GoFundMe to support Ms Tangey’s mother has already raised more than $27,000 of what was initially an $8000 target.
Detective Inspector Chris Murray from Arson and Explosives Squad told reporters on Thursday Ms Tangey had been looking after the house for her brother, who was on his honeymoon.
‘What I can say is this: this individual is completely innocent and should not have died,’ Det Insp Murray told reporters.
On Friday, Ms Tangey’s mum Tracey told friends she was a broken woman.
‘It’s with a heavy heart I let you all know my beautiful baby girl passed away in a targeted house fire yesterday morning at 2am,’ she wrote on Instagram.
‘I am completely broken and don’t know how we are going to heal from this devastating news. If you could all remember our beautiful soul in your own way.’
Addressing media on Thursday, Det Insp Murray said police did not believe the attack was linked to the ongoing tobacco wars, which have seen more than 100 arson incidents across Victoria.
However, the random nature of the attack led police to believe it might have been a mistake.
‘We’re stuck. The premises and the family and the individual lead us nowhere. Therefore, the only logical conclusion I can draw is they’ve got the wrong premises,’ Det Insp Murray said.
Katie Tangey, otherwise known as Vivien May-Royale, was killed in a targeted attack
Katie Tangey, otherwise known as Vivien May-Royale, was allegedly murdered in a case of mistaken identity
CCTV footage from a nearby property showed two alleged offenders parking a small dark colour SUV or hatchback outside the home at around 2.03am before they jumped the fence.
The pair were seen getting back into the car and speeding away at around 2.10am as flames erupted from the home.
‘We know two occupants got out of that vehicle. Some accelerant was poured inside the house and subsequently has engulfed the premises,’ Det Insp Murray said.
‘Whether they meant to damage these premises or just cause a scare tactic… now they are staring at a charge of homicide, of murder.
‘We’re looking for two murderers. Let’s be clear about that.
‘I know the type of individuals that do that, they do it for a few $100 thinking they’re going to burn something down. This was just a matter of time.’
A Truganina man told Daily Mail Australia he recalled hearing a loud noise after midnight.
‘The roof was fully engulfed. It was ferocious.’
‘It was quite distressing – knowing there might be people in there.’
A community advice warning was issued for smoke in the immediate area.
Police have appealed for anybody with information to come forward by contacting Crime Stoppers.
