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 Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian, who was mistakenly abducted from his North Ryde home on February 13, 2024. Donnelly was charged with murder, kidnapping, firearms offences, and drug supply, with a sawn-off shotgun and prohibited drugs found at his Seven Hills home during the raid. Authorities allege Donnelly was contracted to kidnap Dimitri Stepanyan’s father but instead targeted Baghsarian, leading to a botched $50 million ransom demand before the mistake was revealed. Two accomplices, Gerard Andrews and Daniel Stevens, were previously charged and remain in custody. Baghsarian’s body was discovered near a Pitt Town golf course on February 23, 2024, after being tortured and killed. Donnelly was arrested wearing only underwear and updated his Facebook profile while police were actively investigating, raising suspicion about his awareness of the ongoing hunt. Investigations continue into a suspected nine-person crew, with possible offshore involvement. Donnelly’s girlfriend, Jenessa Thurston, was arrested for unrelated violence offences and sentenced to 10 months in jail. The case highlights a tragic mistake in a criminal operation targeting an innocent victim with no ties to organised crime.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Deklin James Donnelly, 23, was arrested at his Seven Hills public housing address on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, and charged with the kidnapping and murder of Chris Baghsarian, a 85-year-old grandfather mistakenly abducted from his North Ryde home 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 was charged with murder, take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasioning bodily harm, possessing an unauthorised firearm (sawn-off shotgun), ammunition, and drug supply offences (heroin, methylamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis).
- Gerard Andrews, 29, and Daniel Stevens, 24, were previously charged with Baghsarian’s kidnapping and murder and remain in custody; they were arrested on March 19, 2024.
- Baghsarian’s body was found on February 23, 2024, near a golf club at Pitt Town, Sydney’s northwest, after being dumped by his alleged captors.
- Donnelly was arrested wearing only his underwear and updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16, 2024, while police were actively investigating Baghsarian’s death.
- Jenessa Thurston, 23, Donnelly’s girlfriend, was arrested at the Seven Hills home and charged with breaching an apprehended violence order; she was sentenced to 10 months’ jail for the breach and unrelated assault charges.
- Police allege up to nine people were involved in the kidnapping and murder, with investigations ongoing into whether the botched abduction was ordered offshore.
- Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks confirmed Donnelly was a ‘higher player’ in the crew and recruited Stevens and Andrews to facilitate the kidnapping.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- 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; ransom demands of $50 million were made to the Stepanyan family, who informed kidnappers of the mistake.
- Donnelly allegedly recruited Stevens and Andrews to help kidnap and detain Baghsarian, who was believed killed shortly after the mistake was revealed.
- Neighbours described Donnelly and Thurston as ‘very quiet’ and rarely seen before their arrests; the couple moved into the Seven Hills property a few weeks prior.
- Police seized illegal firearms, ammunition, and a ‘significant amount’ of prohibited drugs at Donnelly’s home, though the exact quantity was not specified beyond the types listed.
- Baghsarian’s family has no links to organised crime and described him as a ‘kindest person’ who would never hurt a fly; they declined to comment after the arrests.
- Donnelly was charged with ‘take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasioning bodily harm’ (not explicitly stated in SMH or NEWSCOMAU).
- Superintendent Marks stated police allege Donnelly ‘conveyed Mr Baghsarian to the stronghold in Dural where he was kept’ (specific phrasing not in other sources).
- No mention of the $50 million ransom demand or Dimitri Stepanyan’s family in ABC’s article.
- The sawn-off shotgun was found ‘under the bed’ during the raid on Donnelly’s home, with ammunition and drugs also discovered at the property (specific location detail not in SMH or ABC).
- Donnelly allegedly murdered Baghsarian ‘between the morning of February 13 and 9pm the following evening’ (timeframe not specified in other sources).
- Thurston was sentenced to 10 months’ jail with a non-parole period of six months and will be released on parole in September 2024 (exact parole date not in SMH or ABC).
- Donnelly faces three counts of supply prohibited drug (not explicitly listed in SMH or ABC).
- Police officers entered the Seven Hills home and found Donnelly and Thurston in the ‘main bedroom’ (specific room detail not in other sources).
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- SMH states Donnelly was arrested on Wednesday morning, but NEWSCOMAU implies the arrest occurred early Wednesday morning (no specific time in ABC).
- SMH mentions Donnelly updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16, 2024, while ABC and NEWSCOMAU do not specify this detail.
- NEWSCOMAU states Donnelly allegedly murdered Baghsarian ‘between the morning of February 13 and 9pm February 14,’ while SMH and ABC do not provide this exact timeframe.
- ABC does not mention the $50 million ransom demand or Dimitri Stepanyan’s family, which are key details in SMH and NEWSCOMAU.
- SMH describes Donnelly as ‘one of the higher players in that crew’ (general), while ABC’s Marks specifically states Donnelly ‘conveyed Mr Baghsarian to the stronghold in Dural’ (more precise role).
Source Articles
Concerning find in alleged killer’s home: cops
New details have emerged after a man accused of playing a key role in the alleged kidnapping and murder of a grandfather was charged....
23yo fronts court over alleged abduction and murder of Chris Baghsarian
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....
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....