Two men have been charged over the kidnapping and murder of Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian, bringing a tragic end to a nearly two-week search that gripped the city.
NSW Police arrested 29-year-old Gerard Andrews and 24-year-old Daniel Stevens on Wednesday, a day after human remains were found near a golf club at Pitt Town.
Search warrants were executed across multiple locations, including Kenthurst, Castle Hill and Lake Macquarie, where police seized vehicles, electronic devices and clothing believed to be relevant to the investigation.
The men were taken to Riverstone Police Station, where they were charged late on Wednesday with murder and take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasioning actual bodily harm. Both were refused bail and are due to appear in Blacktown Local Court on Thursday.
The charges follow formal forensic identification of the remains as Mr Baghsarian, ending a 12-day search for the 85-year-old, who was abducted from his North Ryde home in what police say was a case of mistaken identity.
Police allege Mr Baghsarian was taken to a property in Dural, where he was tortured and killed before his body was dumped in Pitt Town the following day. The remains were discovered on Tuesday.
Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Marks said confirmation of the victim’s identity had devastated the family.
“While the family of Mr Baghsarian welcome the news of the arrests, they’re still devastated by the loss of their father and grandfather,” he said.
In a statement, the family said: “We welcome the news of the recent arrests in relation to the kidnapping of our father and grandfather.”
Police allege the pair participated in a joint criminal enterprise to kidnap Mr Baghsarian, who was then held hostage at a property where he ultimately died.
“I wish to stress that Mr Baghsarian was not the intended target of the kidnapping,” Detective Chief Inspector Marks said.
The intended target is understood to have been a relative of convicted armed robber Dimitri Stepanyan, who lived on the same street.
Detective Chief Inspector Marks said further arrests were expected.
“Although we celebrate small wins, we know there’s a lot more to go,” he said, thanking investigators for their work and vowing to pursue every person involved in what he described as a “horrible, horrible matter.”
Images: NSW Police
