By Adrian Black and Holly Hales, AAP
A grieving mother says her family will “never be the same” after her daughter was killed in a fire in an apparent case of mistaken identity.
Tracey Tangey’s daughter Katie, 27, died after becoming trapped while house-sitting her brother’s three-storey townhouse in Truganina, on Thursday, January 16.
The Hoppers Crossing woman, a popular burlesque performer, called emergency services for help but did not survive the blaze.
Tracey said the arson has devastated the family, including her son and his wife who had been on their honeymoon before tragedy struck.
“My son and daughter in-law have lost everything they own, their sister, their dog Sunny … we will never be the same again,” she wrote on Instagram.
“l need to wrap my love around them … thank you all, she would have been so humbled by all your love.”
In an earlier post, she described her own grief over her daughter’s death.
“I am completely broken and don’t know how we are going to heal from this devastating news,” she wrote.
“Mum loves you more than you will ever know, you are and always will be my best friend and the love of my life.
“My heart will be forever broken.”
The burlesque community also remembered Katie, who performed under the name Vivien May-Royale, in tributes on social media.
“Our hearts are breaking and a very big hole will be felt in our industry,” The Apprentease Victoria wrote on Facebook.
“Vale Vivien May-Royale, our hearts go out to your family and we will continue to celebrate you and your sparkly life.”
Friend Chanie Hyde has banded together with other members of Melbourne’s burlesque scene to raise funds for Katie’s family after her life was “tragically cut short”.
“Proceeds will go directly to Katie’s mother, Tracey, to support her living expenses and funeral costs during this insurmountable time of grief,” Ms Hyde wrote on a GoFundMe page which has raised more than $16,000.
Katie’s death is being treated as a homicide after two people were seen getting out of a car and pouring accelerant inside the house before it was engulfed in flames.
Police believe the offenders had targeted the wrong address.
“She’s been subjected to the most appalling, despicable act one could imagine,” Detective Inspector Chris Murray said.
