Former Zahra Foundation CEO Leaves Australia as Adelaide Murder Case Unfolds
Police say Kelly-ann Tansley is a witness, not a suspect, as two men are charged with murder in connection with Bill Frangos’ death
Adelaide, Australia — The murder investigation into 72-year-old Bill Frangos intensified on Tuesday as police charged two men with murder, arson and destroying human remains in connection with the November 2024 blaze at his Woodville Gardens home. Investigators say Frangos was killed between 10:30 p.m. and midnight on the night in question, and his house was set alight several hours later. Yanick Masengo Nkhangu and Shekuba Kamara have been charged with murder, arson and destroying human remains and were remanded in custody in April; they are due to appear in court in October.
Kelly-ann Tansley, the former chief executive of the Zahra Foundation, flew to the United Kingdom on April 16, hours before detectives planned to interview her as a witness in the Frangos case. Police said she is not a suspect and will not be detained on her return. The Advertiser reported that Tansley ceased working for the Zahra Foundation on April 17. SA Police had previously said her property had been under surveillance for weeks and that one of the suspects was arrested at her home in April.
Authorities had earlier released CCTV footage in December showing two men of African appearance and a distinctive red Ford Falcon XR6 ute with a chrome roll bar and loud sports exhaust, which investigators say were linked to the case. The footage has been cited by investigators as part of the ongoing inquiry into Frangos’ death.
On LinkedIn, Tansley’s location appeared as the United Kingdom on the day she left, and she is listed as a former non-executive board director at OARS Community Transitions, an organization that supports former inmates reintegrate into society. She is no longer listed on the board. The Zahra Foundation, which works to support survivors of domestic violence, has not publicly commented on her departure or any connection to the Frangos case beyond noting that she was a witness in the investigation.
Police officials said the investigation remains active and that authorities are pursuing several lines of inquiry related to the November 2024 homicide and arson. The two men charged in connection with Frangos’ death are due to appear in court in October, and investigators have stressed that the case continues to unfold with new forensic and documentary evidence being reviewed. The departure of a high-profile former executive has drawn attention to the broader network of individuals connected to public-facing anti-violence advocacy groups and their interactions with ongoing criminal investigations in Australia.