A third man has been charged with the murder of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian, who was allegedly kidnapped from his North Ryde home on 13 February in a case of mistaken identity. Deklan Jake Donnelly, 23, was arrested on Wednesday morning at a property in Seven Hills, Sydney, where police also seized a firearm, ammunition, mobile phones, and a substantial amount of prohibited drugs.
Police allege Donnelly was one of the principal offenders involved in facilitating the kidnapping, detention, and disposal of Baghsarian. He has been charged with murder, taking or detaining with intent to ransom occasioning actual bodily harm, possessing a firearm, three counts of supplying a prohibited drug, and failure to comply with a digital evidence access order direction.
Two other men, Daniel Stevens, 24, and Gerard Andrews, 29, were previously charged in February with murder and related offences. Police allege Baghsarian's body was dumped near a golf club at Pitt Town and was found on 24 February.
A woman, Jenessa Thurston, 23, was also arrested during the raid but was not charged over the murder. She was charged with breaching an apprehended domestic violence order and sentenced to 10 months in prison after pleading guilty in Blacktown local court.
Donnelly was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear before Blacktown local court on Thursday.
