Mistaken identity kidnapping of 85-year-old Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian ends in his death; two men charged with murder after body found near Pitt Town golf course, February 2026.
Tragic Kidnapping and Murder of Innocent Grandfather:
An 85-year-old Sydney grandfather was kidnapped from his home in a case of mistaken identity and later killed, in what police describe as a shocking spillover from organised crime networks operating in the city’s north-west.
Chris Baghsarian, a widower who lived alone and had no connection to crime, was ripped from his bed around 5am on February 13, 2026, by three men who bundled him into a dark-coloured SUV. His body was found 11 days later near a golf course in Pitt Town, north-west of Sydney. Forensic testing confirmed the remains were his.
Two men have now been charged with his alleged murder and kidnapping, with police warning more arrests are likely as the investigation into the $50 million ransom demand unfolds.
Abduction, Ransom Demand, and Arrests Unfold:
CCTV from a neighbouring home captured three men forcing Baghsarian into an SUV just before dawn on February 13. The widower, who required daily medication and had known health issues, was taken in what detectives immediately suspected was a case of mistaken identity.
Police later revealed the intended target was a convicted armed robber named Mr Stepanyan, who lived in the same North Ryde area and has alleged links to the Alameddine crime family, one of Sydney’s prominent drug-trafficking networks. A video showing Baghsarian tied up and assaulted was sent to the intended target along with a $50 million ransom demand.
The trail led investigators to an abandoned property in Dural, where further evidence emerged, including two burnt-out cars. On February 24, human remains were located near a golf course in Pitt Town. Forensic confirmation came swiftly, devastating the victim’s family.
Early on February 24, heavily armed officers executed search warrants in Kenthurst, Castle Hill and Lake Macquarie. Andrews was arrested in Kenthurst and Stevens in Castle Hill. Both were charged that evening and appeared via video link in Blacktown Local Court the next morning.
Neither applied for bail. Andrews’ lawyer Paul McGirr told reporters his client “was no mastermind” and had not orchestrated the crime. Stevens’ lawyer described the death as a “tragic incident” and requested medical attention for his client’s shingles. Both cases were adjourned to Penrith Local Court on April 17.
Sydney Crime Spillover and the Search for an Innocent Victim:
Kidnappings for ransom remain extremely rare in Australia, particularly those involving innocent civilians. Sydney’s north-west suburbs, however, have seen repeated clashes between rival organised crime groups, including the Alameddine network, which police link to drug importation and distribution.
Baghsarian, by all accounts, was the antithesis of that world-a quiet grandfather with no criminal history or underworld ties. His family described him as someone who “never hurt a fly” and expressed disbelief at being caught up in someone else’s conflict.
The abduction triggered an intense 11-day search involving strike force detectives, the Raptor Squad and SES volunteers scouring bushland in Glenorie and surrounding areas. Police made repeated public appeals for the kidnappers to release the elderly man safely because of his medical needs.