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 firearm and drug offenses after an sawn-off shotgun, ammunition, and prohibited drugs were found at his Seven Hills home during his arrest. Authorities allege he was a ‘major player’ in the plot, which targeted Dimitri Stepanyan’s father (a relative living three doors down) but mistakenly abducted Baghsarian. Donnelly’s girlfriend, Jenessa Thurston, was arrested separately for violence-related offenses and sentenced to 10 months in prison. Two other men, Gerard Andrews and Daniel Stevens, were charged earlier for their alleged roles in the crime. Investigations suggest up to nine people were involved, with possible offshore coordination, though no payment to Donnelly has been confirmed. Baghsarian’s family, with no ties to organized crime, remains devastated by the botched abduction and murder.
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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 ammunition and prohibited drugs (heroin, methylamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis).
- 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 and sentenced to 10 months imprisonment (non-parole 6 months) for an apprehended violence order breach and a prior police assault charge; she was not charged in Baghsarian’s death.
- Police allege Baghsarian was abducted in a case of mistaken identity, targeting Dimitri Stepanyan’s father (who lived three doors down) instead, with a $50 million ransom demanded from Stepanyan’s family.
- 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 a ‘major player’ in the plot.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Donnelly allegedly murdered Baghsarian between February 13 morning and February 14 at 9pm, with his body disposed of near Pitt Town golf course.
- Donnelly was charged with ‘take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm’ alongside murder.
- Police allege Donnelly was present at Baghsarian’s North Ryde home during the abduction and conveyed him to a ‘stronghold in Dural’ where he was detained.
- Donnelly’s Facebook profile picture was updated on February 16 (two days after body was dumped and eight days before discovery), while police were actively investigating.
- 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.
- No mention of Donnelly’s Facebook profile picture update or specific timeline for Baghsarian’s murder (between February 13–14).
- Emphasizes Donnelly was a ‘major player’ in the ‘mistaken identity kidnapping’ plot.
- Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks described Donnelly as ‘contracted to kidnap Dimitri Stepanyan’s father’ but mistakenly abducted Baghsarian, with demands made to Stepanyan’s family.
- Donnelly allegedly recruited Stevens and Andrews to assist in the kidnapping and detention, and was captured on CCTV at Baghsarian’s home during the abduction.
- Police seized ‘illegal firearms and firearms parts’ at Donnelly’s home, not just an sawn-off shotgun.
- Neighbors described Donnelly and Thurston as ‘very quiet’ and rarely seen before their arrests.
- Investigations are ongoing to determine if the botched abduction was ‘ordered offshore’ and whether Donnelly received payment.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- NEWSCOMAU states Donnelly allegedly murdered Baghsarian between February 13 morning and February 14 at 9pm, but ABC and SMH do not specify this exact timeline.
- SMH reports police seized ‘illegal firearms and firearms parts’ at Donnelly’s home, while NEWSCOMAU and ABC only mention an ‘sawn-off shotgun’ and ammunition.
- NEWSCOMAU claims Donnelly was found with a shotgun ‘under the bed’ during the raid, but SMH does not specify the exact location of the firearm.
- SMH states Donnelly was ‘contracted to kidnap Dimitri Stepanyan’s father’ (explicitly naming the intended target), while ABC and NEWSCOMAU only refer to a ‘relative of Dimitri Stepanyan’ without naming the father.
- NEWSCOMAU mentions Donnelly updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16 (while police were investigating), but ABC does not include this detail.
Source Articles
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