Footage has been released of the chilling moment arsonists set fire to a home, killing an innocent young woman who was house-sitting and a pet dog.
Katie Tangey, 27, and her brother’s Golden Retriever Sunny both died in the targeted house fire in Truganina, in Melbourne’s west, on January 16.
On Tuesday, detectives from Victoria Police’s Arson and Explosives Squad released the CCTV footage in the hope it may flush out new information which could bring the killers to justice.
Investigators now believe the arson attack was linked to the illicit tobacco war which had seen a series of fire-bombings of premises across Melbourne for more than a year.
Information received by detectives has suggested it was a targeted attack, but the culprits got the wrong address.
Police have been unable to establish any other reason why Ms Tangey, a burlesque dancer known as Vivien May-Royale, or her brother – who owned the home – would have been targeted.
Fire engulfs the home where Katie Tangey, 27, and her brother’s Golden Retriever Sunny were trapped
Katie Tangey, 27, and her brother’s Golden Retriever Sunny were killed in the fire
Ms Tangey had been house-sitting while her brother Ethan and new wife Brooke Tangey were on their honeymoon.
CCTV captured shortly after 2am that night showed two people getting out of a dark coloured vehicle – similar to a BMW X3 – outside the home.
A Ring security camera at the Dover Street house captured the moment the house was engulfed in flames, before the two men, one carrying what appeared to be a jerry can, fled the scene.
Trapped inside, Ms Tangey called triple-0 to say the home was alight, but was unable to escape.
Emergency services were called about 2.30am – more than 20 minutes after the townhouse was set alight.
Ms Tangey and Sunny died at the scene and the three-storey townhouse was completely destroyed.
The dark coloured vehicle was captured on CCTV travelling north on Forsyth Road in Truganina about 2.12am.
Detectives have spent the past month working to determine a motive for the attack and who was responsible.
This has led to Taskforce Lunar – the crack group tasked with ending Melbourne’s tobacco war, uncovering information which linked the incident to the illicit tobacco dispute.
Ethan and Brooke Tangey and their beloved dog Sunny, who perished alongside Mr Tangey’s sister in the arson attack
Emergency services were initially called to reports of a fire at a residential property on Dover Street about 2.30am
Detectives have spent the past month working to determine a motive for the Dover Street attack and who was responsible
On Tuesday, Arson and Explosives Squad Detective Inspector Chris Murray slammed the bungling killers for taking an innocent life.
‘Katie Tangey, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a beloved member of her community, has needlessly lost her life in this senseless and despicable incident, which we are investigating as a deliberate act,’ he said.
‘This is a tragedy. To those responsible: we are committing every resource we have to finding you and holding you accountable for this homicide.
‘The violence that we have seen from these organised crime syndicates and this relentless drive for profits above all else has resulted in this incident. It could be described as nothing less than a flagrant disregard for human life.’
Inspector Murray vowed those responsible would be caught and brought to justice.
‘We know this is solvable. We know this, because there are people out there who have information about who is responsible at all levels of this offence,’ he said.
‘We also know this is the type of crime even the most hardened criminal would be disgusted with – we implore them to come forward and tells us what they know via Crime Stoppers. As always, it can be done anonymously.’
The killers set fire to the Dover Street home
A car used by the killers was captured on CCTV
The deadly fire is lit
A GoFundMe appeal has revealed the tragedy’s impact 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.’
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 big-hearted locals will help get the Tangey family back on their feet.
Anyone with information or who recognises those or the vehicle involved is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
