Ringleader of Sydney grandfather’s botched kidnapping and murder arrested, police say

Police have charged a man they say facilitated the kidnapping and murder of Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian, who was allegedly snatched from his bed before being tortured and killed in a case of mistaken identity.

In the most significant breakthrough to date in the investigation into Baghsarian’s death, detectives from the robbery and serious crime squad working under Strike Force Chobat arrested Deklin James Donnelly, 23, at his public housing address in Seven Hills on Wednesday morning.

Detectives will allege Donnelly was contracted to kidnap the father of convicted armed robber Dimitri Stepanyan, 37, who lived three doors down from Baghsarian, but mistakenly abducted the 85-year-old instead. Demands of a $50 million ransom were made to the Stepanyan family, who told kidnappers they had abducted the wrong man. Stepanyan, who is linked to the Alameddine crime family, is not accused of any involvement in Baghsarian’s death.

Donnelly allegedly recruited several people, including Daniel Stevens, 24, and Gerard Andrews, 29, to help kidnap and detain Baghsarian, who was believed to have been killed shortly after his alleged captors were told they had targeted the wrong home, and dispose of his body. Donnelly is known to police and as an associate of Stevens.

“He was involved in organising the kidnapping of another person, but took Mr Baghsarian, and he was one of the higher players in that crew,” Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks, acting commander of the robbery and serious crime squad, said.

Police allege Donnelly was captured on CCTV at Baghsarian’s home at the time of his kidnapping on February 13, and later that night near an abandoned Dural home where Baghsarian was tortured and killed. The other men are yet to be identified.

Donnelly was on Wednesday afternoon charged with Baghsarian’s kidnapping and murder, as well as possessing an unauthorised firearm and ammunition, and drug supply offences. He was refused police bail to appear in Blacktown Local Court on Thursday.

Stevens and Andrews were last month charged with Baghsarian’s kidnapping and murder, and remain in custody.

Police seized illegal firearms and firearms parts, ammunition, and a significant amount of prohibited drugs at Donnelly’s Seven Hills home, Marks said. Donnelly’s girlfriend, Jenessa Thurston, 23, was also arrested at the couple’s home and charged with breaching an apprehended violence order. She has not been charged over Baghsarian’s death. Thurston was refused police bail to appear in Blacktown Local Court on Wednesday.

Donnelly, arrested on Wednesday wearing only his underwear, updated the profile picture on his Facebook account on February 16 – two days after police believe Baghsarian’s body was dumped on the outskirts of a golf club at Pitt Town in Sydney’s north-west and while detectives were hunting the widower’s killers, and eight days before the remains were found.

Donnelly and Thurston’s neighbours said the couple had moved into the Seven Hills property a few weeks before their arrests.

“Really haven’t seen them, just a couple times wandering in and out … just very quiet,” one neighbour said.

Detectives believe up to nine people were involved in Baghsarian’s kidnapping and murder and are investigating whether the botched abduction was ordered offshore. At least one key player in the plot is believed to have left the country in the days after Baghsarian’s death. Marks said it was not known if Donnelly had received payment for the kidnapping.

Baghsarian’s family has no links to organised crime and are “distraught” over the 85-year-old’s death, Marks said.

In a statement issued last month, Baghsarian’s family said he was a deeply loved and a devoted father, brother, uncle and grandfather, the kindest person they knew, and someone who would never hurt a fly. The family declined to comment when contacted on Wednesday.

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