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 mistaken-identity kidnapping and murder of Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian, who was snatched from his North Ryde home on February 13 and found dead near a Pitt Town golf course 11 days later. Donnelly was charged with murder, kidnapping, firearms offences, and drug supply, while his girlfriend, Jenessa Thurston, was charged with breaching a violence restraining order. Authorities allege Donnelly targeted Dimitri Stepanyan’s family by mistake, demanding a $50 million ransom before realizing the error; Stepanyan, linked to the Alameddine crime family, is not accused of involvement. Donnelly was found with an sawn-off shotgun, ammunition, and prohibited drugs at his Seven Hills home, where he was arrested wearing only underwear. Two accomplices, Daniel Stevens and Gerard Andrews, were previously charged and remain in custody. Detectives believe up to nine people were involved, with investigations ongoing into possible offshore involvement. Baghsarian’s family, with no ties to organized crime, described him as a kind and gentle man, while Donnelly’s neighbors reported he and Thurston were rarely seen before their arrests.
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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, an 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 was refused bail, appearing in Blacktown Local Court on March 21, 2024, with his next court date set for May 22.
- Daniel Stevens, 24, and Gerard Andrews, 29, 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 24, 2024, near a golf club in Pitt Town, Sydney’s northwest, after being dumped by his alleged captors.
- Police allege Donnelly recruited Stevens and Andrews to facilitate the kidnapping and that up to nine people were involved in the botched abduction.
- Donnelly faces charges including murder, possessing an unauthorised firearm and ammunition, and drug supply offences; Stevens and Andrews face similar charges.
- Jenessa Thurston, 23, Donnelly’s girlfriend, was arrested at the Seven Hills home and charged with breaching an apprehended violence order, later sentenced to 10 months jail for the breach.
- The kidnapping was allegedly intended for Dimitri Stepanyan, 37, a father linked to the Alameddine crime family, who lived three doors down from Baghsarian, with a $50 million ransom demanded.
- Police seized an sawn-off shotgun, ammunition, and prohibited drugs (heroin, methylamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis) at Donnelly’s Seven Hills home.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Donnelly updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16, two days after police believe Baghsarian’s body was dumped and while detectives were actively searching for the victim.
- Neighbours described Donnelly and Thurston as ‘very quiet’ and rarely seen before their arrests, having moved into the property a few weeks prior.
- 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.
- Marks mentioned the possibility that the botched abduction was ordered offshore and that at least one key player remains at large.
- Baghsarian’s family was described as ‘distraught’ and had no links to organised crime; they previously issued a statement calling him ‘the kindest person they knew.’
- Court documents revealed Donnelly was allegedly murdered Baghsarian between February 13 morning and February 14 at 9pm, with the body found 11 days later.
- The sawn-off shotgun was found ‘under the bed’ during the raid on Donnelly’s Seven Hills home, alongside a ‘string of prohibited drugs.’
- Thurston was sentenced to 10 months jail with a non-parole period of six months and will be released on parole in September 2024.
- Donnelly was charged with ‘acquire firearm without authority to do so’ and three counts of supply prohibited drug, in addition to murder and kidnapping.
- Superintendent Andrew Marks stated Donnelly allegedly ‘conveyed Mr Baghsarian to the stronghold in Dural where he was kept,’ though this phrasing was not explicitly used in other sources.
- The ABC noted Donnelly was a ‘major player’ in the plot but did not provide additional context beyond what was stated in SMH.
- The article emphasized Donnelly’s first court appearance was ‘briefly called up’ on Thursday, March 21, without requiring his presence.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- SMH states Donnelly was arrested on Wednesday morning (March 20) and charged with possessing an unauthorised firearm and ammunition, while NEWSCOMAU’s court documents imply the firearm charges were part of the initial arrest but do not specify the exact timing of the ‘acquire firearm without authority’ charge.
- NEWSCOMAU claims Donnelly allegedly murdered Baghsarian between February 13 morning and February 14 at 9pm, but SMH does not specify a timeframe for the murder, only stating it occurred ‘shortly after’ the captors were told they had the wrong man.
- SMH reports Donnelly updated his Facebook profile on February 16, two days after the body was dumped, while NEWSCOMAU does not mention this detail.
- NEWSCOMAU states Thurston will be released on parole in September 2024, whereas SMH does not specify a release date beyond her 10-month sentence.
- SMH mentions the possibility of the abduction being ordered offshore and that at least one key player remains at large, but ABC and NEWSCOMAU do not reference this detail.
Source Articles
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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....