Melbourne’s tobacco war claims the life of ‘completely innocent’ house sitter

A woman who died trapped in a burning home became the first civilian fatality in the gangland war over control of Melbourne’s illicit tobacco trade when arsonists targeted the wrong house.

House sitter Katie Tangey, 27, and her family were “completely innocent” victims in a case of mistaken identity that police now say is linked to the state’s tit-for-tat firebombing war.

The house fire in Melbourne’s west claimed the life of drag performer, photographer and burlesque artist Tangey, along with a golden retriever named Sunny in the early hours of January 16 this year.

Arson and explosives squad detectives revealed on Tuesday that they believed the firebombing on Dover Street in Truganina was linked to the tobacco war. They say Tangey’s murder would disgust even the most hardened criminal and have vowed to find those responsible.

They believed Tangey and her family were “completely innocent” victims when arsonists hit the wrong address, destroying the three-storey townhouse while the 27-year-old’s brother and his wife were away on their honeymoon.

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“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,” Detective Inspector Chris Murray said.

“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.

“However, 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.