Arrest of Deklin Donnelly 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 kidnapping and murder of Chris Baghsarian, an 85-year-old Sydney grandfather mistakenly abducted on February 13, 2024. Donnelly was charged with murder, kidnapping with intent to ransom, and multiple firearms and drug offences, including possession of an unauthorised sawn-off shotgun and prohibited drugs. Authorities allege he recruited Daniel Stevens and Gerard Andrews to carry out the abduction, which targeted Dimitri Stepanyan—a Sydney businessman linked to organised crime—before the wrong man was taken. Baghsarian’s body was found near a Pitt Town golf course 11 days later. Donnelly was arrested at his Seven Hills home, where police also seized illegal firearms and drugs, and was refused bail. Stevens and Andrews, charged earlier, remain in custody. Investigations suggest up to nine people may have been involved, with possible offshore coordination. Donnelly’s girlfriend, Jenessa Thurston, was arrested for unrelated violence offences and sentenced to 10 months in jail. The case highlights a botched kidnapping plot driven by mistaken identity, with Donnelly described as a key figure in Sydney’s criminal underworld.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Deklin James Donnelly, 23, was arrested on Wednesday, March 20, at his Seven Hills public housing address and charged with the kidnapping and murder of Chris Baghsarian, an 85-year-old Sydney grandfather mistakenly abducted on February 13, 2024.
- Donnelly was captured on CCTV at Baghsarian’s North Ryde home at the time of the kidnapping and later near an abandoned Dural home where Baghsarian was allegedly tortured and killed.
- Donnelly faces charges including murder, kidnapping with intent to ransom, possessing an unauthorised firearm (sawn-off shotgun), ammunition, and multiple drug supply offences (heroin, methylamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis).
- Daniel Stevens, 24, and Gerard Andrews, 29, were previously charged with Baghsarian’s kidnapping and murder and remain in custody; they were arrested on March 13, 2024.
- Baghsarian’s body was found on February 24, 2024, near a golf club in Pitt Town, Sydney’s northwest, after being dumped by his alleged captors.
- Donnelly was arrested wearing only his underwear and was refused bail, appearing in Blacktown Local Court on March 21, 2024, with his next court date set for May 22.
- Jenessa Thurston, 23, Donnelly’s girlfriend, was arrested at the same address and charged with breaching an apprehended violence order, later sentenced to 10 months jail (non-parole period of 6 months) for unrelated offences.
- Police allege up to nine people were involved in the kidnapping and murder, with investigations ongoing into whether the botched abduction was ordered offshore.
- A $50 million ransom was demanded from Dimitri Stepanyan, 37, a Sydney businessman linked to the Alameddine crime family, who lived three doors down from Baghsarian and was the intended target.
- Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks stated Donnelly was a ‘major player’ in the kidnapping plot and recruited Stevens and Andrews to assist.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Donnelly allegedly updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16, two days after police believe Baghsarian’s body was dumped and while detectives were actively searching for the victim.
- Neighbours described Donnelly and Thurston as ‘very quiet’ and rarely seen before their arrests, having moved into the Seven Hills property only weeks prior.
- Police seized illegal firearms, ammunition, and a ‘significant amount’ of prohibited drugs at Donnelly’s home, though the exact quantities were not specified beyond the types listed.
- Baghsarian’s family is described as ‘distraught’ and has no links to organised crime; they previously issued a statement calling him ‘the kindest person they knew.’
- Detective Marks mentioned Donnelly was known to police for organising another kidnapping attempt but mistakenly targeted Baghsarian instead.
- The article notes Donnelly’s alleged involvement in organising the kidnapping of another person, implying prior criminal history with police.
- The sawn-off shotgun was found ‘under the bed’ during the raid on Donnelly’s Seven Hills home, with ammunition and drugs also discovered in the property.
- Donnelly was charged with ‘acquire firearm without authority to do so’ and three counts of supply prohibited drug (heroin, methylamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis).
- Thurston was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment with a non-parole period of 6 months, to be released on parole in September 2024.
- The article specifies Donnelly allegedly murdered Baghsarian ‘between the morning of February 13 and 9pm the following evening.’
- Court documents reveal police entered Donnelly’s home and found him and Thurston in the ‘main bedroom’ during the raid.
- Superintendent Marks stated police allege Donnelly ‘conveyed Mr Baghsarian to the stronghold in Dural where he was kept,’ providing a more detailed account of Donnelly’s alleged role in transporting the victim.
- The ABC article emphasizes Donnelly was a ‘major player’ in the ‘mistaken identity kidnapping and murder’ plot, using stronger language than the other sources.
- No additional specific details beyond those in consensus_facts; focuses more on procedural aspects like bail and court appearances.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- SMH states Donnelly was arrested ‘wearing only his underwear’ on Wednesday morning, while NEWSCOMAU does not specify his attire during arrest.
- NEWSCOMAU claims Donnelly was charged with ‘acquire firearm without authority to do so,’ which is not mentioned in SMH or ABC.
- SMH reports Donnelly allegedly updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16, but NEWSCOMAU and ABC do not mention this detail.
- NEWSCOMAU specifies Donnelly allegedly murdered Baghsarian ‘between the morning of February 13 and 9pm the following evening,’ while SMH and ABC do not provide this exact timeframe.
- SMH describes Donnelly as ‘known to police and as an associate of Stevens,’ whereas NEWSCOMAU and ABC do not explicitly state his prior criminal history with police.
Source Articles
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The man who police have alleged to be a "major player" in the mistaken identity kidnapping and murder of a Sydney grandfather has fronted court for the first time....
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Ringleader of Sydney grandfather’s botched kidnapping and murder arrested, police say
Deklin James Donnelly, 23, was contracted to abduct the father of a man linked to the Alameddine crime family when he mistakenly snatched Chris Baghsarian, police allege....