A 27-year-old woman has been killed in an arson attack on a home in Melbourne’s west, with police believing two men targeted the wrong address.
Two men allegedly arrived at the home on Dover Street in Truganina about 2am and poured accelerant inside it before it went up in flames while the woman was inside.
The Hoppers Crossing woman was housesitting her brother’s three-storey townhouse while he is on his honeymoon overseas.
She rang emergency services to report she was trapped in the house before she died at the scene and the house was destroyed.
A pet dog is still unaccounted for.
Arson and Explosives Squad Detective Inspector Chris Murray told reporters two men were believed to have gotten out of a dark-coloured vehicle parked outside the address.
“Two occupants got out of the vehicle, some accelerant was poured inside the house and subsequently has engulfed the premises and an innocent young lady has lost her life,” he said.
“This individual is completely innocent and should not have died. We have no history on this individual nor the family.”
He said the woman was a quiet person who tended to stay at home.
“These offenders have targeted the wrong address, which is nothing short of a tragedy.”
Murray said the incident was believed to be targeted and a case of mistaken identity.
“What I will say to the offenders, whether they meant this or not, we are investigating a homicide now,” he said.
The woman’s family have been notified of her death.
“I hope for the family’s sake, we can bring this to a conclusion to give a sense of comfort … They are clearly, obviously and utterly devastated as we would all be in these circumstances,” Murray said.
Police are undergoing a major canvas of the area for CCTV.
Murray urged anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has CCTV or dashcam footage, to come forward.
“No information is too insignificant for us to look at,” he said.
“I can’t confirm or otherwise say these individuals weren’t injured as a result of this act. If they’ve gone to a hospital or doctor or someone has seen someone come home whose had a burn, that is something we would like to hear about.”
