Police offer $500,000 for information on fatal Truganina house fire linked to tobacco wars
The incident at Truganina on January 16 killed 27-year-old Katie Tangey.
Ms Tangey had been house-sitting for her brother while he was overseas when the home was set alight and became engulfed in flames, trapping her and the family dog inside and destroying the three-storey townhouse.
Police believe the fire was likely linked to Victoria's tobacco wars, but have said the house on Dover Street was not the intended target of the attack and that Ms Tangey had no links to the state's illicit tobacco trade.
"Those responsible for Katie's death know they targeted the wrong house and they have to live with the knowledge that they are responsible for the horrific death of a completely innocent young woman," Detective Inspector Chris Murray said.
"We believe we know who directed this crime, and we know we are getting closer to proving who was responsible for carrying it out on the night."
An investigation led by Victoria Police's Arson and Explosives Squad has been underway since February, with search warrants carried out at areas across Melbourne in recent months.
Police have not disclosed details about any suspects but are seeking information about a man they want to speak to about the incident.
Investigators released a digitally composed image of him in April. He is described as Middle Eastern in appearance, aged between 25 and 30 years old, and as having a slim build.
At the time of the fire in January, police said CCTV captured two people parked outside the Truganina home before an explosion occurred and the pair left the area.
A reward of up to $500,000 has been offered for anyone who can lead police to the apprehension and subsequent conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of Ms Tangey.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
22 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Disturbing': 21-year-old charged with allegedly beating a puppy in Newcastle
WARNING: Distressing A former private school student faced court on Monday after allegedly beating a puppy that later died near Newcastle on Sunday afternoon. Police have charged Cooper Owens, 21, with committing an act of aggravated cruelty upon an animal, and torturing, beating and seriously injuring an animal after he allegedly took a puppy out of his vehicle in a carpark in Sandgate, and began slamming it against the side of his car. 'Police were told that the assault allegedly continued before the pup was put back into the vehicle,' a police spokesperson said in a statement on Monday. Owens was arrested at a home in Port Stephens on Sunday evening, with clothing, a car seat cover, and a mobile phone seized for further examination. The puppy's body was later found on Porowei Way, Kooragang, a bush track about 20 minutes from the carpark where the alleged abuse took place. Owens was granted strict conditional bail on Monday with Magistrate Elizabeth Bushby describing the allegations as 'disturbing'. His bail conditions include not owning or being in possession of any animal, and seeking a mental health assessment.
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Jet ski crash leaves 15yo dead, 14yo's arm severed in Sylvania, Sydney
A shocking jet ski accident on a river in Sydney's south has left a 15-year-old boy dead and a 14-year-old boy seriously injured.
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Boy, 15, dies after Sylvania jet ski crash as another fights for life with severed arm
One boy is dead and another is fighting for life after his arm was severed in jet ski crash in Sydney's south. A 15-year-old boy was found dead in the water in the Georges River, Sylvania after the collision just after 6pm, police said. Paramedics were called after reports of a jet ski crash and two people in the water at Tom Uglys Bridge. Police said the second boy, 14, has been taken to Sydney Childrens Hospital in a critical condition with a "severed arm". A crime scene is currently being set up as police investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Two witnesses, Danielle and Anna, were sitting on a nearby boat ramp when they saw a person yelling for help, and they called the ambulance. "Two ambulance officers ended up swimming out to get him and brought him back," Danielle. "As they were bringing him back, he didn't look conscious. We didn't really see what happened but they told us it was a crime scene and we had to leave."
