Arrest of Deklin Donnelly in Sydney grandfather’s mistaken-identity kidnapping and murder case
Consensus Summary
Police have arrested Deklin Donnelly, 23, as a key figure in the mistaken-identity kidnapping and murder of Chris Baghsarian, an 85-year-old Sydney grandfather abducted from his North Ryde home on February 13 and found dead near Pitt Town on February 24. Donnelly was charged with murder, kidnapping, and multiple firearms and drug offenses after police found an sawn-off shotgun, ammunition, and prohibited drugs at his Seven Hills home during his arrest. Authorities allege he was a ‘major player’ in the plot, which targeted Dimitri Stepanyan’s father but mistakenly took Baghsarian, with a $50 million ransom demanded before the captors realized their error. Two other men, Gerard Andrews and Daniel Stevens, were charged earlier for their alleged roles. Donnelly’s girlfriend, Jenessa Thurston, was also arrested for unrelated violence offenses and sentenced to 10 months in prison. Investigations continue into a suspected nine-person gang, with police confirming at least one key participant remains at large. Baghsarian’s family, with no ties to organized crime, has described him as a beloved figure, while detectives emphasize the case remains active with potential offshore involvement.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Deklin Donnelly, 23, was arrested on March 6 at a Seven Hills home in Sydney’s west, charged with murder and kidnapping of Chris Baghsarian, 85, who was abducted from North Ryde on February 13 and found dead near Pitt Town golf course on February 24.
- Donnelly was found wearing only his underwear during the arrest, with an sawn-off shotgun allegedly found under his bed at the Seven Hills property along with prohibited drugs (heroin, methylamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis) and ammunition.
- Gerard Andrews, 29, and Daniel Stevens, 24, were charged on March 5 with murder and kidnapping of Baghsarian, and remain in custody without entering pleas.
- Jenessa Thurston, 23, Donnelly’s girlfriend, was arrested alongside him for an apprehended violence order breach and sentenced to 10 months imprisonment (non-parole period of 6 months) on March 6 for unrelated offenses.
- Police allege the kidnapping was a case of mistaken identity, targeting Dimitri Stepanyan’s father (who lived three doors down from Baghsarian) but abducting Baghsarian instead, with a $50 million ransom demanded.
- Donnelly was remanded in custody on March 7 after not applying for bail, with his next court appearance scheduled for May 22.
- Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks stated up to nine people were involved in the kidnapping and murder, and Donnelly was identified as a ‘major player’ in the plot.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Donnelly allegedly murdered Baghsarian between February 13 morning and 9pm on February 14, with his body disposed of shortly after the captors realized the wrong man was taken.
- Donnelly was charged with ‘take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm’ alongside murder and firearms/drug offenses.
- Thurston was arrested for an apprehended violence order breach and a 2025 matter involving assaulting a police officer during duty execution.
- Donnelly’s charges include ‘acquire firearm without authority to do so’ and three counts of ‘supply prohibited drug’.
- Superintendent Andrew Marks stated Donnelly was alleged to have ‘conveyed Mr Baghsarian to the stronghold in Dural where he was kept’ during a press conference.
- The ABC notes Donnelly updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16 (two days after Baghsarian’s body was dumped and eight days before discovery).
- The ABC emphasizes Donnelly was a ‘major player’ in the ‘mistaken identity kidnapping’ and was present at Baghsarian’s North Ryde home during the abduction.
- Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks stated Donnelly was ‘contracted to kidnap Dimitri Stepanyan’s father’ but took Baghsarian instead, and recruited Stevens and Andrews for the plot.
- Donnelly allegedly updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16 while police were hunting Baghsarian’s killers, with neighbors describing the couple as ‘very quiet’ and rarely seen.
- Police seized ‘illegal firearms and firearms parts’ at Donnelly’s home, and Marks stated at least one key player in the plot remains at large after Baghsarian’s death.
- The SMH notes Baghsarian’s family has no links to organised crime and described him as ‘the kindest person they knew’ in a prior statement.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- NEWSCOMAU states Donnelly allegedly murdered Baghsarian between February 13 morning and 9pm on February 14, while ABC and SMH do not specify a precise timeline for the murder.
- NEWSCOMAU lists Donnelly’s charges as including ‘take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm,’ while ABC and SMH only mention ‘take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasioning bodily harm’ (no ‘actual’ modifier).
- SMH claims Donnelly was ‘contracted to kidnap Dimitri Stepanyan’s father’ but took Baghsarian instead, while NEWSCOMAU and ABC do not explicitly state Donnelly was ‘contracted’—only that he was a ‘ringleader’ or ‘major player.’
- ABC notes Donnelly updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16, but NEWSCOMAU and SMH do not mention this detail.
- NEWSCOMAU states Thurston was arrested for an ‘apprehended violence order breach’ and a ‘2025 matter’ involving police assault, while SMH specifies the 2025 matter was for ‘assaulting a police officer in the execution of duty’ and a prior AVO breach.
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