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 kidnapping and murder of Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian, who was mistakenly abducted from his North Ryde home on February 13. Donnelly was charged with murder, kidnapping with ransom intent, firearms offences (including an sawn-off shotgun found at his Seven Hills home), and drug supply. He was arrested wearing only underwear and refused bail, with investigations revealing up to nine suspects may have been involved. Baghsarian’s body was found near Pitt Town after 11 days, and police allege Donnelly recruited others, including Gerard Andrews and Daniel Stevens, who were previously charged. Donnelly’s girlfriend, Jenessa Thurston, was arrested for unrelated violence offences. While all sources confirm the mistaken identity and key charges, details vary on specific offences, timing of discoveries (e.g., the shotgun’s location), and Donnelly’s alleged actions during the abduction. The case highlights organised crime ties to Dimitri Stepanyan’s family and ongoing efforts to identify all perpetrators.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Deklin James Donnelly, 23, was arrested on March 20 at his Seven Hills home 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 residence 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)
- Gerard Andrews, 29, and Daniel Stevens, 24, were previously charged with Baghsarian’s kidnapping and murder and remain in custody
- Baghsarian’s body was found on February 24 near a golf club in Pitt Town, Sydney’s northwest, 11 days after his abduction
- Donnelly was arrested wearing only his underwear and was refused bail, appearing in Blacktown Local Court on March 21
- 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 (6 months non-parole) for unrelated offences
- Police allege up to nine people were involved in the kidnapping and murder, with investigations ongoing into possible offshore involvement
- Baghsarian’s family has no links to organised crime and described him as a kind, non-violent man
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Donnelly was contracted to kidnap Dimitri Stepanyan’s father (a convicted armed robber linked to the Alameddine crime family) but mistakenly abducted Baghsarian, who lived three doors down
- Demands for a $50 million ransom were made to the Stepanyan family, who informed kidnappers of the mistake
- Donnelly updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16 (two days after Baghsarian’s body was dumped) while police were actively searching for the victim
- Neighbours described Donnelly and Thurston as ‘very quiet’ and rarely seen before their arrests
- Police seized illegal firearms, ammunition, and a ‘significant amount’ of prohibited drugs at Donnelly’s home
- Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks stated Donnelly was ‘one of the higher players in that crew’ and had prior police involvement in organising another kidnapping
- Court documents reveal Donnelly was allegedly found with an sawn-off shotgun *under the bed* during the raid, along with ammunition and prohibited drugs
- Donnelly was charged with ‘take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm’ (not just ‘occasioning bodily harm’ as in ABC)
- Donnelly faces *three counts of supply prohibited drug* (not specified in other sources)
- Thurston was sentenced for assaulting a police officer in 2025 (not just a community corrections order for assault)
- Donnelly’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 22 (not mentioned in SMH or ABC)
- Superintendent Andrew Marks stated Donnelly allegedly ‘conveyed Mr Baghsarian to the stronghold in Dural’ where he was detained
- No mention of the sawn-off shotgun being found *under the bed* (only that firearms were seized)
- No specific mention of the $50 million ransom demand or Stepanyan’s involvement in the headline
- No detail on Donnelly’s Facebook profile update or neighbours’ observations
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- SMH states Donnelly was arrested wearing only his underwear on Wednesday morning, but NEWSCOMAU implies he was found in the main bedroom during the raid (timing/location unclear)
- NEWSCOMAU specifies Donnelly was charged with ‘take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm’ (two offences), while ABC and SMH list it as a single charge (‘take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasioning bodily harm’)
- SMH reports Donnelly was charged with *possessing an unauthorised firearm and ammunition* (singular), while NEWSCOMAU lists *possess unauthorised firearm, possess ammunition without license, and acquire firearm without authority* (three separate charges)
- NEWSCOMAU states Thurston was sentenced for assaulting a police officer in 2025, while SMH describes her as serving a community corrections order for assault and an earlier AVO breach (no 2025 date mentioned)
- ABC does not mention the $50 million ransom demand or Dimitri Stepanyan’s role in the kidnapping plot, which are central details in SMH and NEWSCOMAU
Source Articles
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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....