The New South Wales Police Force today announced the arrest of two men in connection with the kidnapping and murder of 85-year-old widower Chris Baghsarian, in what investigators described as a devastating case of mistaken identity.
Kidnapping Details
Masked assailants broke into Baghsarian’s home in North Ryde on February 13, 2026. They kidnapped the 85-year-old widower around 5 a.m. Additionally, CCTV footage showed the group bundling him into an SUV.
Baghsarian lived alone after his wife’s death. Police confirmed he had no criminal ties. Furthermore investigators determined the attackers targeted the wrong person.
Intended Target
The kidnappers aimed for a relative of Dimitri Stepanyan. Stepanyan, a convicted armed robber, resided on the same street. However they seized Baghsarian by mistake.
Police described the incident as a case of mistaken identity. “Early inquiries established that Chris Baghsarian was not the intended target of the kidnapping and had been taken in a case of mistaken identity,” officials stated.
Torture and Murder
The abductors took Baghsarian to a property in Dural. There, they tortured and killed him. Meanwhile they dumped his body in Pitt Town. Human remains surfaced near a golf club on February 24, 2026. Tests confirmed the identity as Baghsarian.
Arrests Made
Detectives arrested two men on February 25, 2026. Gerard Andrews, aged 29, and Daniel Stevens, aged 24, faced charges of kidnapping and murder. Additionally, police alleged they acted as hired muscle for a crime gang.
Andrew Marks, Detective Acting Superintendent, addressed the case. “The men participated in a joint criminal enterprise with other persons to kidnap Mr. Baghsarian and, ultimately, where he was held hostage and where he came to his death,” Marks said.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities sought more suspects. “These people need to be held to account for that,” a police spokesperson declared. Furthermore, the family had pleaded for public assistance during the search. The arrests followed extensive efforts by NSW Police. Kidnappings remained rare in Australia, but this event shocked the community.
