Detectives have charged two men in relation to the alleged kidnapping and murder of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian, but the investigation is widening. Police are now seeking three more men for questioning as they work to identify all those involved in the fatal abduction.
The 85-year-old was kidnapped from his home in North Ryde just after 5am on Friday 13 February 2026. CCTV footage from a nearby home showed three men bundling the widower into an SUV about 5am. New footage released by police shows individuals walking towards a semi-rural property linked to the investigation.
Early inquiries established that Chris Baghsarian was not the intended target of the kidnapping and had been taken in a case of mistaken identity. Police believe the intended target for the abduction was a relative of underworld-linked Sydney businessman Dimitri Stepanyan, who lived on the same street as Baghsarian.
The investigation took a tragic turn when human remains confirmed as being Mr Baghsarian were located about 8am on Tuesday 24 February 2026 near a golf club in Pitt Town. Police believe the 85-year-old died at an abandoned house in nearby Dural that was linked to the kidnapping.
Two men have already appeared in court over the matter. Gerard Anthony Andrews, 29, and Daniel Stevens, 24, appeared via video link in a Sydney court on Thursday, charged with killing Baghsarian. The two suspects were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday and taken to a local police station, where they were charged with murder and take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm.
However, police believe more people were involved. Police suspect that at least three people are involved in the fatal abduction, and they expect to make further arrests. Senior police allege a third unknown person was involved in the kidnapping, whom they are searching for.
Police repeatedly told the kidnappers they had the wrong person and publicly urged them to release Baghsarian, who required daily medication. Detective acting superintendent Andrew Marks suspected the intended target was to be kidnapped in the hope of a ransom fee being paid, and confirmed reports the figure demanded was $50 million.
The case has highlighted concerns about mistaken identity attacks in Sydney's criminal underworld. Kidnappings are rare in Australia, even more so when victims have no prior history that would suggest they were a target, and in past situations, people are released once they realize they have got the wrong person.
The two suspects were refused bail and will appear in court again on 17 April. The investigation remains ongoing as Strike Force Chobat detectives continue to identify those responsible for Baghsarian's death.