Breakthrough as two men arrested for alleged murder of western suburbs man late last year

Police have arrested and charged two men for the alleged murder of a 74-year-old western-suburbs man late last year.

Two men have been arrested and charged with the alleged murder of 74-year-old Bill Frangos, whose body was found after a house fire in his western-suburbs home late last year.

Police will allege that Mr Frangos was murdered, before his body was found by firefighters who entered the home on Essex St, Woodville Gardens home on 7 November, 2024.

Police and emergency services were called to his Essex St house just after 4am, after a passer-by noticed an “orange glow emanating from the premises”.

Firefighters entered the house and found a body inside.

Bill Frangos, the man police believe was murdered before his Woodville Gardens home was set alight. Picture: SA Police.

On Friday, Major Crime detectives arrested a 27-year-old Novar Gardens man and a 27-year-old Fulham Gardens man, following an extensive investigation and appeal to the public for assistance.

Both men have been charged with murder, arson and destroy human remains.

It comes after police announced in March that the “net is closing” on two suspects, and said that Mr Frangos’ house was set alight more than three hours after he was allegedly murdered.

In an interview with 7NEWS a woman named Catherine said she witnessed the arrest of one of the men on Friday.

She said she heard a “big screech” with “a car coming around the corner chasing the person.”

“I then heard a big bang and saw a car rolling across my front yard” she said.

“They pinned down a gentleman on the floor. It was quite loud and quite confronting,” Catherine said.

On Friday, Major Crime detectives arrested a 27-year-old Novar Gardens man and a 27-year-old Fulham Gardens man. Picture: NewsWire / Dean Martin

A man wearing a backpack was seen walking from a grey Commodore towards the Essex St house and a short time later CCTV captured it erupting in flames and the same person running back to the car. Picture: SAPOL

In December, police released CCTV footage they believed to be related to the murder in hopes of identifying the suspects.

The footage showed two men and a red Ford Falcon XR6 utility believed to have been in the vicinity on the night.

The XR6 has since been located by police, and a second vehicle was also being sought by detectives.

Mr Frangos was said to be a “well-known” member of the Woodville Gardens community who lived alone at his property with his dog.

The arrested men are expected to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court next week.