Latest news with #KatieTangey
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Burlesque dancer trapped in house set on fire begged for help in last phone call
Katie Tangey had been house sitting for her brother and his wife, who were away on their honeymoon, when the home she was in was firebombed in the early hours of the morning A burlesque dancer who was trapped in a burning home begged for help before she died in a bungled hit job. Katie Tangey, also know by her stage name Vivien May-Royale, died in a targeted house blaze in Truganina, in Melbourne, Australia, in the early morning of January 16. She alerted emergency services at about 2am and told the operator she could not get out of the house. She desperately tried to get out through a window on the top floor but ended up getting trapped before burning to death. Victoria Police today offered $500,000 AUD (£242,665) as a reward. The two men suspected of starting the fire remain on the run, although authorities believe gang lord Kaz Hamad is linked to the targeted hit. Ms Tangey had been house sitting with her brother's golden retriever, Sunny, who also died in the blaze at the three-storey townhouse. Her brother Ethan and his wife Brooke were on their honeymoon when the fire happened. "I'm six months into the investigation now and what I can say is this - yes, he's involved," homicide squad detective inspector Chris Murray said on Monday. "From the information we have, the illegal tobacco trade is front and centre as to why this incident occurred. "We know there was a theft of (Hamad's) commodities, being illegal tobacco and we know that he sought retribution. Unfortunately... the two buffoons who committed this act targeted the wrong address." The inspector said he did not suggest Hamad deliberately target Ms Tangey but alleged he requested the job be done, MailOnline reported. Inspector Murray said: "We know he's overseas. We're all ears,' he said. 'In fairness, I'd say even he would be disgusted as to what's transpired here. "If he's got any sense of decency, I'm sure he can get us on the phone and let us know the two individuals who actually did this. They should be held accountable. They should be held responsible and brought to justice so we can give some closure to Katie's family." Detectives have not revealed who they believe the real target of the firebombing was meant to be. Inspector Murray added: "We're very confident that we know the motive." He went on to describe Ms Tangey's horrific final moments, adding she was "completely innocent" and was asleep when the attack happened. "One can only imagine how scared she must have been," he said. Police have since revealed an anonymous call was made to Crime Stoppers in which police were given a nickname linked to the attack. Officers are now asking that person to contact them again in a bid they can get more information. Detectives previously shared an image of a man, described as slim, Middle Eastern and aged between 25 and 30, who they wish to speak to. Last month, officers raided a home in Dandenong, a Melbourne suburb, where they found a phone connected to the crime. CCTV recorded the moment in which the suspects fled the scene and travelled along Forsyth Road at about 2:12am. Any information can be given to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Horrific new details emerge of how burlesque dancer died while she tried to flee flames engulfing her home - as cops name prime suspect accused of masterminding bungled arson attack and why it happened
Tobacco wars kingpin Kaz Hamad and his 'buffoon' hitmen are being hunted by Victorian police for the bungled murder of Melbourne woman Katie Tangey. Ms Tangey, otherwise known as Vivien May-Royale, died in the targeted house fire in Truganina, in Melbourne's west, in the early hours of January 16. She made a desperate triple-0 call shortly after 2am, telling the operator she couldn't get out of the burning house in Dover Street. Ms Tangey then desperately tried to escape the inferno through a window on the top floor of the home, but she became trapped and burnt to death in the flames. On Monday, Victoria Police offered a $500,000 reward for anyone who could help bring Ms Tangey's killers to justice. Two men who started the blaze are still on the run, but police have now publicly admitted for the first time that they believe Hamad ordered the bungled firebombing. 'I'm six months into the investigation now and what I can say is this - yes, he's involved,' Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Chris Murray said on Monday. 'From the information we have, the illegal tobacco trade is front and centre as to why this incident occurred. 'We know there was a theft of (Hamad's) commodities, being illegal tobacco and we know that he sought retribution. 'Unfortunately... the two buffoons who committed this act targeted the wrong address.' Inspector Murray said he was not suggesting Hamad deliberately targeted Ms Tangey, but his alleged tasking of the job was ultimately behind the crime. 'We know he's overseas. We're all ears,' he said. 'In fairness, I'd say even he would be disgusted as to what's transpired here. 'If he's got any sense of decency, I'm sure he can get us on the phone and let us know the two individuals who actually did this. 'They should be held accountable. They should be held responsible and brought to justice so we can give some closure to Katie's family.' Detectives refused to reveal who they believe was Hamad's real target for the firebombing on the night Ms Tangey died. 'We're very confident that we know the motive,' Det Insp Murray said. 'We're fairly solid on the motive now. We're fairly solid on what's transpired. Our focus is to identify those two individuals who committed this act. 'Others can be held accountable in various other ways, but we want to identify those two because they are solely responsible, in my view, for killing Katie.' Inspector Murray described the horror Ms Tangey faced in her final agonising moments alive. '(Ms Tangey) was a completely innocent individual who had nothing to do with this illegal tobacco trade at all,' he said. '(She) was asleep in bed, in the early hours. One can only imagine how scared she must have been.' In a fresh twist, it was revealed an anonymous phone call was made to Crime Stoppers in which police were given a pseudonym or nickname linked to the attack. Police are now asking that person to contact them again in the hope they may be able to provide more information. Detectives earlier released an image of a man, described as slim, Middle Eastern, and aged between 25 and 30, whom they wish to speak to about the tragedy. 'Detectives are particularly keen to hear from anyone who recognises the man in the image or has any further information on the nickname provided in the call to Crime Stoppers,' a police statement added. In June, police raided a home in Dandenong in relation to the crime and seized a phone. Ms Tangey had been house sitting with her brother's golden retriever, Sunny, who also died inside the three-storey townhouse. Her brother Ethan Tangey and his wife Brooke were just days into their honeymoon when the fire took place. CCTV captured the vehicle in which the killers fled the scene, travelling north on Forsyth Road in Truganina at approximately 2.12am.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
$500,000 reward in case of ‘tobacco war' firebomb that killed innocent burlesque performer
Six months after the deadly firebombing that claimed the life of burlesque performer Katie Tangey, police have announced a $500,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Tangey, 27, became the first innocent bystander to die in Victoria's escalating 'tobacco wars'. Emergency services were called to a house fire on Dover Street in Truganina around 2.30am on January 16. Tangey, who had been house sitting for her brother who was away on his honeymoon, called triple-0 to say the home was engulfed in fire. Tangey and the family's golden retriever, Sonny, died inside the three-storey townhouse. CCTV footage released by police as part of their investigation shows two people arriving shortly after 2am on the morning of the fire in a dark-coloured SUV, believed to be similar to a BMW X3 or X5. A ring camera at the Dover Street house also captures the moment the house is engulfed, before two men, one carrying what appears to be a jerry can, flee the scene. Police believe the firebombing was a targeted arson attack, but the offenders struck the wrong home and intended to target a different unit in the same complex.
The Age
3 days ago
- The Age
$500,000 reward in ‘tobacco war' firebomb case that killed innocent burlesque performer
Six months after the deadly firebombing that claimed the life of burlesque performer Katie Tangey, police have announced a $500,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Tangey, 27, became the first innocent bystander to die in Victoria's escalating 'tobacco wars'. Emergency services were called to a house fire on Dover Street in Truganina around 2.30am on January 16. Tangey, who had been house sitting for her brother who was away on his honeymoon, called triple-0 to say the home was engulfed in fire. Tangey and the family's golden retriever, Sonny, died inside the three-storey townhouse. CCTV footage released by police as part of their investigation shows two people arriving shortly after 2am on the morning of the fire in a dark-coloured SUV, believed to be similar to a BMW X3 or X5. A ring camera at the Dover Street house also captures the moment the house is engulfed, before two men, one carrying what appears to be a jerry can, flee the scene. Police believe the firebombing was a targeted arson attack, but the offenders struck the wrong home and intended to target a different unit in the same complex.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
Update after woman killed in arson attack
Police are offering a $500,000 reward following a fatal arson attack that killed a 'completely innocent' woman in Melbourne. On Monday, police announced the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Katie Tangey's death. Ms Tangey, 27, was housesitting for her brother in the suburb of Truganina in January when the home was engulfed in flames. Police suspect it was a targeted attack on the wrong house. '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 in a statement on Monday. Police suspect the attack was linked to Victoria's massive illicit tobacco trade. Police have released a digital composite sketch of a man they wish to speak to. Credit: NewsWire Katie Tangey was killed while housesitting for her brother. Credit: NewsWire '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,' Inspector Murray said. '$500,000 is a lot of money – hopefully it will encourage those people out there who do know something to do the right thing and come forward. Katie's family deserve answers.' Two men were captured on camera carrying a jerry can, then fleeing the scene in a dark-coloured BMW X3 or X5 after a 'significant explosion', police say. Ms Tangey called triple-0 from inside the three-storey home, which was completely destroyed in the blaze. She could not escape and died at the scene, as did the family's golden retriever Sonny. Detective Inspector Chris Murray says police have good information. NewsWire / Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia Police released a digital composite image of one of the suspects in April, describing him as being Middle Eastern in appearance with a slim build and aged between 25 and 30. In June, a house in Dandenong was searched by police. No arrests have been made, and police are still analysing several mobile phones that were seized. An anonymous phone call was also made to Crime Stoppers, which has left police appealing for information about the nickname or pseudonym the tipster revealed. 'We know there are people in the community who have inside knowledge of the planning and directing as well as the identity of those who took part in the arson,' Inspector Murray said. 'We are doing everything we can to locate those people and hold them to account.' 'These people need to be held accountable for the fact they committed a crime, which ultimately led to the death of a young woman who had her whole life ahead of her. 'I'd ask how these people can live with themselves knowing they've done that and I would ask how people who know what the offenders have done, how they can live with this knowledge and not come forward and assist police.' The $500,000 reward for information leading to a conviction is at the discretion of the Chief Commissioner of Police. The Director of Public Prosecutions will consider an indemnity from prosecution for information identifying the arsonists.
