Sydney grandfather’s mistaken-identity kidnapping and murder investigation
Consensus Summary
Police have arrested Deklin James Donnelly, 23, as the alleged ringleader in the kidnapping and murder of Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian, 85, a case involving mistaken identity. Baghsarian was abducted from his North Ryde home on February 13 and found dead near a Pitt Town golf course ten days later. Donnelly, along with Daniel Stevens and Gerard Andrews, is accused of targeting Dimitri Stepanyan—a Sydney businessman linked to organised crime—before abducting the wrong man. Investigators allege up to nine people were involved, with evidence suggesting the plot may have been orchestrated offshore. Donnelly faces multiple charges, including murder, firearms offences, and drug supply, and was arrested at his Seven Hills home wearing only underwear. His girlfriend, Jenessa Thurston, was also arrested for breaching a violence restraining order. Police seized illegal firearms and drugs from Donnelly’s residence, and detectives continue to probe the full extent of the conspiracy. The Baghsarian family, with no ties to crime, remains devastated by the killing of their beloved grandfather.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Deklin James Donnelly, 23, was arrested on March 20, 2024, at his Seven Hills public housing address for his alleged role in the kidnapping and murder of Chris Baghsarian, 85, a Sydney grandfather.
- Baghsarian was abducted from his North Ryde home on February 13, 2024, and his remains were found near a Pitt Town golf course on February 23, 2024.
- Donnelly was charged with Baghsarian’s kidnapping and murder, as well as possessing an unauthorised firearm and ammunition, and drug supply offences.
- Daniel Stevens, 24, and Gerard Andrews, 29, were previously charged with Baghsarian’s kidnapping and murder and remain in custody.
- Police allege 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 tortured and killed.
- The kidnapping was allegedly a mistaken identity targeting Dimitri Stepanyan, 37, a Sydney businessman linked to the Alameddine crime family, who lived three doors down from Baghsarian.
- 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 was arrested wearing only his underwear and updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16, 2024, while police were searching for Baghsarian’s killers.
- Donnelly’s girlfriend, Jenessa Thurston, 23, was arrested and charged with breaching an apprehended violence order, later sentenced to 10 months’ jail for the breach.
- Police seized illegal firearms, firearms parts, ammunition, and a significant amount of prohibited drugs at Donnelly’s Seven Hills home.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Donnelly allegedly recruited Stevens and Andrews to help kidnap and detain Baghsarian, who was believed to have been killed shortly after captors were told they had targeted the wrong home.
- Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks stated Donnelly was ‘one of the higher players in that crew’ and had been involved in organising another kidnapping.
- Donnelly’s neighbours described the couple as ‘very quiet’ and having moved into the property only a few weeks before their arrests.
- Police allege Donnelly was not known to have received payment for the kidnapping.
- Baghsarian’s family is described as ‘distraught’ and has no links to organised crime, with a prior statement calling him ‘the kindest person they knew.’
- Donnelly updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16, two days after police believe Baghsarian’s body was dumped and while detectives were actively hunting the killers.
- Donnelly was charged with ‘take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasioning bodily harm’ alongside murder.
- Donnelly did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to appear in court again in May.
- Superintendent Andrew Marks stated Donnelly was alleged to have ‘conveyed Mr Baghsarian to the stronghold in Dural where he was kept.’
- The ABC noted that Donnelly was not required to appear for his matter at Blacktown Local Court on Thursday, implying a procedural detail not mentioned in SMH.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- SMH states Donnelly was arrested wearing only his underwear, but ABC does not mention this detail.
- SMH reports Donnelly was charged with possessing an unauthorised firearm and ammunition, while ABC only lists firearms and drug charges without specifying ‘unauthorised’ firearms.
- SMH mentions Donnelly allegedly did not receive payment for the kidnapping, but ABC does not address this claim.
- SMH states Donnelly updated his Facebook profile picture on February 16, two days after the body was dumped, while ABC does not provide this timeline detail.
- SMH includes a quote from Detective Marks calling Donnelly ‘one of the higher players in that crew,’ but ABC does not replicate this phrasing.
Source Articles
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