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 near a Pitt Town golf course 11 days later. Donnelly was charged with murder, kidnapping, firearms offences, and drug supply, with an sawn-off shotgun and prohibited drugs found at his Seven Hills home during his arrest. Authorities allege Donnelly recruited others, including Daniel Stevens and Gerard Andrews, who were previously charged in the case, and that the abduction was intended for Dimitri Stepanyan’s father—a relative of a known crime figure—before the wrong man was targeted. Donnelly’s girlfriend, Jenessa Thurston, was arrested for an unrelated violence order breach and sentenced to 10 months in jail. Investigations suggest up to nine people may have been involved, with possible offshore coordination, though no direct evidence has been disclosed. Donnelly remains in custody without bail, facing a court appearance in May, while Stevens and Andrews await trial. The case highlights a botched kidnapping plot that escalated into a brutal murder, leaving Baghsarian’s family devastated by the senseless violence.
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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.
- Police allege Donnelly recruited Daniel Stevens (24) and Gerard Andrews (29) to help kidnap and detain Baghsarian, with Stevens and Andrews previously charged with the same offences and remaining in custody.
- Donnelly faces charges including murder, possessing an unauthorised firearm and ammunition, and drug supply offences, and was refused bail to appear in Blacktown Local Court on Thursday.
- An sawn-off shotgun was found under Donnelly’s bed during his arrest, along with ammunition and prohibited drugs (heroin, methylamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis) at his Seven Hills home.
- 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.
- Donnelly’s girlfriend, Jenessa Thurston (23), was arrested at the same address and charged with breaching an apprehended violence order, later sentenced to 10 months jail for the breach.
- Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks stated Donnelly was a ‘major player’ in the kidnapping plot and that up to nine people may have been involved, with investigations ongoing into possible offshore involvement.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Donnelly updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16 while police were actively hunting Baghsarian’s killers and eight days before the body was found.
- Neighbours described Donnelly and Thurston as ‘very quiet’ and rarely seen before their arrests.
- Police allege Donnelly was contracted to kidnap Dimitri Stepanyan’s father, who lived three doors down from Baghsarian, and that the Stepanyan family told kidnappers they had abducted the wrong man.
- Baghsarian’s family is described as having ‘no links to organised crime’ and is ‘distraught’ over his death.
- Detective Marks mentioned Donnelly was known to police for organising another kidnapping and was ‘one of the higher players in that crew’.
- Court documents reveal Donnelly allegedly murdered Baghsarian between February 13 morning and 9pm on February 14.
- Donnelly faces three counts of supply prohibited drug in addition to other charges.
- Thurston was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment with a non-parole period of six months and will be released on parole in September 2025.
- The article emphasizes the ‘string of firearm offences’ Donnelly is charged with, including ‘acquire firearm without authority to do so’.
- Superintendent Marks stated police will allege Donnelly ‘conveyed Mr Baghsarian to the stronghold in Dural where he was kept’ during a press conference.
- The ABC article notes Donnelly did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to appear in court again in May, without requiring him to appear on Thursday.
- The ABC specifies Donnelly was arrested at a Seven Hills property in Sydney’s west, while SMH and NEWSCOMAU refer to it as a public housing address.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- SMH states Donnelly was arrested on Wednesday morning, but NEWSCOMAU implies the arrest occurred early Wednesday morning without specifying the exact time.
- NEWSCOMAU says Donnelly allegedly murdered Baghsarian between February 13 morning and 9pm on February 14, while SMH does not specify a timeframe for the murder beyond it occurring shortly after the captors realized the wrong man was taken.
- SMH mentions Donnelly’s Facebook profile picture was updated on February 16, two days after the body was dumped, while NEWSCOMAU does not mention this detail.
- ABC states Donnelly did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to appear in court again in May, without requiring him to appear on Thursday, whereas SMH and NEWSCOMAU both state he was refused bail to appear in Blacktown Local Court on Thursday.
- NEWSCOMAU specifies Thurston’s non-parole period is six months and release date is September 2025, while SMH does not mention the non-parole period or release date.
Source Articles
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....
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....
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New details have emerged after a man accused of playing a key role in the alleged kidnapping and murder of a grandfather was charged....