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 Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian, who was abducted from his North Ryde home on February 13 and killed in Dural before his body was found near Pitt Town on February 24. Donnelly was charged with murder, kidnapping, and multiple firearms and drug offenses, including possession of an sawn-off shotgun and prohibited drugs like heroin and cocaine, after police raided his Seven Hills home. Authorities allege he recruited accomplices Daniel Stevens and Gerard Andrews to target Dimitri Stepanyan’s father by mistake, demanding a $50 million ransom before realizing the error. Donnelly’s girlfriend, Jenessa Thurston, was arrested for breaching a violence order and sentenced to 10 months in jail. Investigations suggest up to nine people were involved, with a key suspect still at large, and police believe the botched abduction may have been orchestrated offshore. Donnelly’s arrest follows earlier charges against Stevens and Andrews, who remain in custody. Baghsarian’s family, with no ties to organized crime, has been devastated by the killing of the beloved 85-year-old.
✓ 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, a 85-year-old grandfather mistakenly abducted from his North Ryde home on February 13
- 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 was refused bail, appearing in Blacktown Local Court on March 21; he will next appear on May 22
- Daniel Stevens, 24, and Gerard Andrews, 29, 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
- 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 the breach and an unrelated assault on a police officer
- Baghsarian’s body was found on February 24 near a golf club in Pitt Town, Sydney’s northwest, 11 days after his abduction
- Police allege up to nine people were involved in the kidnapping and murder, with investigations ongoing into whether the botched abduction was ordered offshore
- Donnelly allegedly recruited Stevens and Andrews to facilitate the kidnapping, believing the target was Dimitri Stepanyan’s father (a relative of Sydney businessman Dimitri Stepanyan, linked to the Alameddine crime family)
- A $50 million ransom was demanded from the Stepanyan family, who informed kidnappers they had abducted the wrong man
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Donnelly updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16 (two days after Baghsarian’s body was dumped and while police were actively searching for the victim)
- Neighbors described Donnelly and Thurston as ‘very quiet’ and rarely seen before their arrests
- Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks stated Donnelly was ‘one of the higher players in that crew’ and had previously organized another kidnapping
- Marks mentioned Donnelly was known to police and had been captured on CCTV at Baghsarian’s home and later near the Dural torture site
- Baghsarian’s family is described as having ‘no links to organised crime’ and is ‘distraught’ over his death
- Police allege Donnelly was not paid for the kidnapping and that a key player remains at large
- Court documents reveal Donnelly was found with an sawn-off shotgun under his bed during the raid
- Donnelly faces charges including ‘take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm’ and three counts of supply prohibited drug
- Thurston was sentenced to 10 months with a non-parole period of six months and will be released on parole in September 2025
- Donnelly allegedly murdered Baghsarian between February 13 morning and February 14 at 9pm
- Superintendent Andrew Marks stated Donnelly allegedly ‘conveyed Mr Baghsarian to the stronghold in Dural where he was kept’
- No mention of Donnelly’s Facebook profile picture update or neighbors’ descriptions
- No specific mention of the $50 million ransom demand or Stepanyan’s crime family links in the summary
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- SMH states Donnelly was arrested on Wednesday morning, but NEWSCOMAU and ABC do not specify the exact time of arrest beyond ‘early Wednesday morning’
- NEWSCOMAU says Donnelly was charged with ‘take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm’ (explicitly mentioning bodily harm), while SMH and ABC only mention ‘kidnapping and murder’ without this specific charge
- SMH reports Donnelly was arrested wearing only his underwear, but ABC does not mention this detail
- NEWSCOMAU states Thurston’s non-parole period is six months and release in September 2025, while SMH does not specify the release date but confirms the 10-month sentence
- SMH mentions Donnelly updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16, but ABC and NEWSCOMAU do not reference this detail
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....
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....