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 ringleader in the mistaken-identity kidnapping and murder of Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian, who was abducted from his North Ryde home on February 13 and killed after captors realized they had the wrong man. Donnelly was charged with murder, kidnapping, and multiple firearms and drug offences, including possession of an sawn-off shotgun found under his bed during a raid on his Seven Hills home. Authorities allege Donnelly recruited others, including Gerard Andrews and Daniel Stevens, who were previously charged in the case, and believe up to nine people were involved. Baghsarian’s body was found near a Pitt Town golf course on February 24, and police suspect the botched abduction may have been ordered offshore. Donnelly’s girlfriend, Jenessa Thurston, was also arrested and sentenced for breaching a violence restraining order. Investigations continue into the full extent of the plot, with Donnelly remanded in custody to face further court appearances in May. The case remains under Strike Force Chobat, with detectives focusing on identifying remaining suspects and clarifying the chain of events leading to Baghsarian’s death.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Deklin James Donnelly, 23, was arrested on Wednesday morning at his Seven Hills public housing address and charged with the kidnapping and murder of Chris Baghsarian, a 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 was arrested wearing only his underwear and his Facebook profile picture was updated on February 16, two days after police believe Baghsarian’s body was dumped near a golf club in Pitt Town, Sydney’s northwest.
- Gerard Andrews, 29, and Daniel Stevens, 24, were previously charged with Baghsarian’s kidnapping and murder and remain in custody.
- Police seized an sawn-off shotgun, ammunition, and a significant amount of prohibited drugs (including heroin, methylamphetamine, cocaine, and cannabis) at Donnelly’s Seven Hills home.
- Donnelly was refused bail and will appear in Blacktown Local Court on May 22, facing charges including murder, kidnapping, and multiple firearms and drug offences.
- 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 six months).
- Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks stated Donnelly was a ‘major player’ in the kidnapping plot and recruited others to assist in the abduction.
- Police believe up to nine people were involved in the kidnapping and murder, with investigations ongoing into whether the botched abduction was ordered offshore.
- Baghsarian’s body was found on February 24, 11 days after his abduction, near a golf course in Pitt Town.
- The kidnapping was allegedly intended for Dimitri Stepanyan’s father, a relative of Sydney businessman Dimitri Stepanyan linked to the Alameddine crime family, but the wrong man was targeted.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Donnelly allegedly recruited Stevens and Andrews to help kidnap and detain Baghsarian, who was believed killed shortly after captors realized the wrong man was taken.
- Donnelly updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16 while police were actively searching for Baghsarian’s killers.
- Neighbors described Donnelly and Thurston as ‘very quiet’ and rarely seen before their arrests.
- Police allege Donnelly was captured on CCTV at Baghsarian’s home at the time of the kidnapping and later near an abandoned Dural home where Baghsarian was tortured and killed.
- Baghsarian’s family is described as ‘distraught’ and has no links to organized crime; they declined to comment after the arrests.
- Detective Marks stated Donnelly was ‘one of the higher players in that crew’ and had prior involvement in another kidnapping attempt.
- Police allege Donnelly was not paid for the kidnapping, and at least one key player remains at large.
- Court documents reveal Donnelly was found with an sawn-off shotgun under his bed during the raid on the Seven Hills home.
- Donnelly was charged with ‘take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm’ alongside murder.
- Thurston was sentenced to 10 months’ jail with a non-parole period of six months, and she will be released on parole in September.
- Donnelly faces three counts of supply prohibited drug in addition to firearms offences.
- The article emphasizes Donnelly was allegedly found in the main bedroom with Thurston during the raid.
- Superintendent Marks stated Donnelly allegedly ‘conveyed Mr Baghsarian to the stronghold in Dural where he was kept’ during a press conference.
- The ABC article does not mention the sawn-off shotgun being found under Donnelly’s bed, only that firearms and drugs were seized.
- The ABC notes Donnelly did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody, but does not specify the exact wording of his charges beyond murder and kidnapping.
- The ABC highlights that Donnelly was a ‘major player’ in the plot but does not include the ‘higher players in that crew’ phrasing from SMH.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- SMH states Donnelly updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16 while police were searching for Baghsarian’s killers, but NEWSCOMAU does not mention this detail.
- SMH reports Donnelly was arrested wearing only his underwear and describes neighbors as rarely seeing the couple before their arrests, while ABC does not mention either detail.
- NEWSCOMAU specifies Donnelly was charged with ‘take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm’ as a separate charge, whereas SMH groups this under kidnapping and murder charges.
- SMH claims Donnelly was not paid for the kidnapping, but this detail is not mentioned in NEWSCOMAU or ABC.
- ABC does not mention the sawn-off shotgun found under Donnelly’s bed during the raid, which is explicitly reported in NEWSCOMAU.
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....