House fire that killed Katie Tangey in wrongly targeted attack linked to Melbourne’s tobacco wars, police believe

Katie Tangey, 27, died as she house-sat her brother’s home in Truganina in an arson attack that hit the wrong property. Police now believe the fire is linked to Melbourne’s seemingly endless tobacco wars.

Police hope the death of innocent woman Katie Tangey in a botched firebombing at Truganina last month – now linked to Melbourne’s tobacco wars – will appeal to the conscience of the state’s most “hardened criminals.”

Victoria Police’s Lunar Taskforce, charged with ending the state’s tobacco war, confirmed on Tuesday it was investigating the arson attack in which two offenders allegedly targeted the wrong house – and Ms Tangey and a family dog became unintended victims.

It comes as fresh CCTV showing what appears to be a BMW X3 travelling north on Forsyth Road around 2.12am was released in hopes it will lead to public tip-offs.

Haunting vision from a ring camera also showed two offenders, one of them with a jerry can in hand, fleeing as the Truganina property went up in flames.

Katie Tangey was killed in an arson attack while she was house-sitting her brother’s home in Truganina. Picture: Facebook

Police believe the arson attack targeted the wrong house and is linked to the tobacco war. Picture: Nadir Kinani

Speaking with media on Monday, Arson and Explosives Squad detective inspector Chris Murray said the “two faceless, gutless individuals” needed to be called out by their own.

He said police believed crucial information would likely come from within criminal ranks, with those involved in the illegal tobacco trade likely to be “disgusted” by the crime.

“All roads lead back to the two individuals that we know committed this act,” he said.

“We know that they will have spoken and we know they would have said they got the wrong address. So, we know there are people out there that know that an innocent young girl has lost her life and we hope they’ve got a conscience.”

CCTV footage of an alleged arsonist at the property. Picture: Victoria Police

The footage shows an fireball being ignited. Picture: Victoria Police

Ms Tangey, 27, died along with a family dog while she was house-sitting her brother’s home in Truganina in Melbourne’s west after two offenders torched the three-storey townhouse.

Ms Tangey was trapped inside the Dover St property as the blaze took hold about 2.14am on January 16. She managed to call firefighters but was unable to escape the property and perished in the blaze.

Det Insp. Murray told reporters there was no reason the young woman or her family could have been targeted.

“She suffered such a horrible fate and she did not deserve to die,” he said.

He said Ms Tangey and her loved ones “had nothing to do” with the illegal tobacco trade.

“I just want to make that crystal clear. We’re absolutely convinced of that.

“This was always a fear that someone (innocent) would die as a result of these tobacco wars and unfortunately, this has come to fruition.”.

Police believe the offenders fled the fire in a car that look like or similar to a BMW X3. Picture: Victoria Police

The vehicle travelled north on Forsyth Rd. Picture: Victoria Police

Investigators will now work closely with Special Taskforce Lunar – the taskforce created to target organised crime syndicates in the illicit tobacco trade – after the link was discovered.

“They’ve really gotten involved,” he said.

“Since we’ve discovered the link and I give credit where credit’s due, that’s where the link has been drawn.

“They have a high degree of expertise in relation to the illegal tobacco trade and we are convinced that this was the motive.”

Det Insp. Murray said Victoria Police was throwing everything it could at the case in an attempt to bring some sort of peace to her family.

“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 27-year-old and a family dog became the victims of a botched firebombing. Picture: Facebook

Katie Tangey died in the Truganina firebombing last month. Picture: Facebook

“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.”

Det Insp. Murray made an impassioned plea for the public’s help and saved even the most seasoned criminal would be sickened by the death of Ms Tangey.

“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 tell us what they know via Crime Stoppers. As always, it can be done anonymously.”

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.