Arrest and charges in Sydney grandfather’s mistaken-identity kidnapping and murder case
Consensus Summary
Police have arrested Deklin James Donnelly, 23, as the alleged ringleader in the mistaken-identity kidnapping and murder of Chris Baghsarian, an 85-year-old grandfather snatched from his North Ryde home on February 13. Baghsarian’s body was found near a Pitt Town golf course 11 days later, with police confirming the abduction was a case of mistaken identity. Donnelly was charged with murder, kidnapping, and multiple firearms and drug offenses, including possession of an sawn-off shotgun and prohibited drugs. He was arrested at a Seven Hills property wearing only his underwear, and an unrelated girlfriend, Jenessa Thurston, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for breaching a violence restraining order. Two other men, Gerard Andrews and Daniel Stevens, were previously charged in the case. Investigators believe up to nine people were involved, with some suspects still at large. Donnelly’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 22, and he remains in custody without bail. While all sources agree on the core details, discrepancies include the motive behind the abduction (SMH mentions a $50 million ransom demand linked to Dimitri Stepanyan’s crime family), the timing of Baghsarian’s murder, and the specifics of Thurston’s prior convictions.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Deklin James Donnelly, 23, was arrested on March 6 at a Seven Hills home and charged with murder and kidnapping of Chris Baghsarian, an 85-year-old grandfather mistakenly abducted on February 13 from North Ryde
- Baghsarian’s body was found near a golf course in Pitt Town on February 24, 11 days after his abduction
- Donnelly was found wearing only his underwear during his arrest and an sawn-off shotgun was allegedly found under his bed along with prohibited drugs (heroin, methylamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis) and ammunition
- Gerard Andrews, 29, and Daniel Stevens, 24, were charged in February with Baghsarian’s kidnapping and murder and remain in custody
- Jenessa Thurston, 23, Donnelly’s girlfriend, was arrested alongside him for an apprehended violence order breach and sentenced to 10 months imprisonment (non-parole period of 6 months)
- Donnelly’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 22 in Blacktown Local Court and was denied bail
- Police allege Donnelly was captured on CCTV at Baghsarian’s home during the kidnapping and near an abandoned Dural home where Baghsarian was tortured and killed
- Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks stated Donnelly was a ‘major player’ in the kidnapping plot and believed up to nine people were involved
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Donnelly allegedly murdered Baghsarian between February 13 morning and February 14 at 9pm, per court documents
- Donnelly was charged with three counts of supply prohibited drug, possess unauthorised firearm, possess ammunition without license, and acquire firearm without authority
- Thurston was sentenced for an earlier 2025 matter involving assaulting a police officer during duty execution
- Donnelly updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16, two days after Baghsarian’s body was allegedly dumped
- Donnelly was contracted to kidnap Dimitri Stepanyan’s father (a relative of Dimitri Stepanyan, linked to the Alameddine crime family) but mistakenly abducted Baghsarian instead
- A $50 million ransom demand was made to the Stepanyan family, who informed kidnappers of the mistake
- Detectives believe the botched abduction may have been ordered offshore and that at least one key player remains at large
- Neighbours described Donnelly and Thurston as ‘very quiet’ and rarely seen before their arrests
- Donnelly’s Facebook profile picture update occurred while detectives were actively hunting Baghsarian’s killers
- Superintendent Marks stated police will allege Donnelly ‘conveyed Mr Baghsarian to the stronghold in Dural’ where he was detained
- No mention of the $50 million ransom demand or Stepanyan family connection in the ABC article
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- NEWSCOMAU states Donnelly allegedly murdered Baghsarian between February 13 morning and February 14 at 9pm, while SMH does not specify a timeframe for the murder but implies it occurred shortly after the kidnappers realized the mistake
- SMH reports Donnelly was contracted to kidnap Dimitri Stepanyan’s father (a relative of Dimitri Stepanyan), but NEWSCOMAU does not mention this specific motive or Stepanyan’s crime family connection
- SMH states detectives believe the botched abduction may have been ordered offshore, a detail not mentioned in NEWSCOMAU or ABC
- ABC omits the $50 million ransom demand to the Stepanyan family, which is explicitly mentioned in SMH
- NEWSCOMAU states Thurston was sentenced for an earlier 2025 matter involving assaulting a police officer, while SMH states she was serving a community corrections order for the same offense
Source Articles
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