Australian detectives arrested two men on Feb. 25, 2026, in connection with the abduction and killing of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian, who was taken from his North Ryde home on Feb. 13. Police found Baghsarian’s remains on Feb. 24 near a golf club on Sydney’s northwestern fringe after an extensive search. Authorities say the attack appears to be a case of mistaken identity and that neither Baghsarian nor his immediate family had links to organised crime. Two suspects, aged 24 and 29, were detained in dawn raids in northwestern Sydney as investigators moved to charge them over kidnapping and murder.
Key Takeaways
- Victim: Chris Baghsarian, 85, a widower who lived alone in North Ryde, Sydney, was abducted from his home on Feb. 13, 2026.
- Discovery: Police located Baghsarian’s remains on Feb. 24 near a golf club on Sydney’s northwestern fringe after days of searching in the Glenorie area.
- Arrests: Two men, aged 24 and 29, were arrested during separate dawn raids on Feb. 25 by the NSW Robbery and Serious Crime Squad.
- Evidence and injuries: Local media obtained images and video reportedly showing Baghsarian with severe injuries, including a severed finger.
- Motive: Investigators say the kidnappers targeted the wrong man; police link the intended target to a relative of a convicted armed robber associated with a west Sydney crime network.
- Ransom claim: Screenshots circulated on social channels reportedly demanded an AU$50 million ransom (about US$35.5 million), a figure police say they have seen.
- Police stance: NSW detectives described the case as a “horrible” incident and said the suspects will be charged in relation to the kidnapping and murder.
Background
Sydney has long faced episodic violence tied to organised crime groups that operate around property, drugs and extortion. In recent years New South Wales police have intensified operations targeting networks involved in armed robbery and gang-related rackets, but high-profile mistakes and brazen crimes continue to attract public concern. Kidnappings for ransom are relatively rare in Australia compared with some other countries, which has made this case particularly shocking to local communities.
Baghsarian, described by police as an elderly widower with no known underworld connections, lived alone in North Ryde, a residential suburb on Sydney’s northern fringe. Investigators say the kidnappers were likely seeking a relative of a convicted armed robber who founded a streetwear brand allegedly linked to the Alameddine crime network based in west Sydney. That alleged connection is the focus of ongoing inquiries into motive and target selection.
Main Event
On Feb. 13 police say Baghsarian was taken from his home in North Ryde. His disappearance prompted searches involving NSW Police and State Emergency Service crews across bushland in the city’s north, including around Glenorie, where officers methodically scoured paddocks and reserves. On Feb. 24 investigators located human remains near a local golf club; police later confirmed the remains were Baghsarian’s.
Video footage released by police shows uniformed officers forcing entry to a property to arrest at least one of the suspects; both men were detained during coordinated dawn raids in northwestern suburbs on Feb. 25. NSW Robbery and Serious Crime Squad Commander Andrew Marks, who led the inquiry after the disappearance, said detectives expected to charge the men with kidnapping and murder.
Local media reported that images circulating on social platforms showed the victim with serious trauma, including an amputated finger. Baghsarian’s family issued a brief statement welcoming the arrests and asking for privacy as they come to terms with the loss. Police have stressed that early signals point to the victim being the wrong man and said investigators are piecing together how the error occurred.
Analysis & Implications
The alleged mistaken-identity nature of the crime highlights the risks posed when organised criminal disputes spill into ordinary neighbourhoods. If investigators confirm the kidnappers intended a different target tied to a criminal network, the case will underline how collateral victims can be drawn into violent feuds, amplifying public fear and challenging police efforts to protect vulnerable citizens.
For law enforcement, the arrests represent a rapid operational response but also raise questions about intelligence, surveillance and the processes criminals use to select targets. The reported AU$50 million ransom demand — an unusually large figure for Australian kidnappings — suggests either an attempt at intimidation or unreliable intelligence guiding the perpetrators. Prosecutors will need to demonstrate how the suspects linked to the alleged ransom demand and the physical killing.
Politically and socially, the incident may prompt renewed calls for stronger community protection measures for older residents and for continued resources to specialist police squads tackling organised crime. There is also a reputational cost for neighbourhood safety and property values in affected suburbs, at least in the short term, and pressure for transparency from police about how a senior citizen came to be targeted.
Comparison & Data
| Event | Date | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Abduction | Feb. 13, 2026 | Baghsarian taken from North Ryde home |
| Remains found | Feb. 24, 2026 | Remains located near northwestern golf club |
| Arrests | Feb. 25, 2026 | Two men, aged 24 and 29, detained in dawn raids |
| Reported ransom | Public screenshots | AU$50 million (~US$35.5 million) demanded |
The table above distils the case timeline and the principal public claims. While killings linked to organised crime in New South Wales are uncommon relative to other categories of violent crime, when they occur they tend to involve concentrated investigations by specialist squads. The AU$50 million figure, if accurate, would be an outlier compared with documented ransom demands in recent Australian cases and merits careful forensic verification by investigators.
Reactions & Quotes
NSW Police provided a number of public comments as the investigation progressed and arrests were made.
“It’s somebody’s worst nightmare. The fact that an innocent man was taken from his home is not acceptable.”
Andrew Marks, NSW Robbery and Serious Crime Squad
“These people need to be held to account for that.”
Andrew Marks, NSW Robbery and Serious Crime Squad
Baghsarian’s family welcomed the arrests in a police statement and asked the media to respect their privacy while they grieve. Local media outlets that reported the alleged ransom screenshots said the messages included the phrase, “You plugged the wrong bloke,” underscoring investigators’ view that the victim was not the intended target.
Unconfirmed
- The authenticity and provenance of social media screenshots claiming an AU$50 million ransom have not been independently verified by police in public statements.
- The precise connection between the intended target and the Alameddine-linked network is based on media reporting and is still under investigation.
- Full details about how the suspects located Baghsarian’s house and the chain of command for the alleged ransom demand remain unconfirmed.
Bottom Line
The arrest of two men marks a significant step in a case that authorities say involves an elderly victim taken in a suspected act of mistaken identity. Police and prosecutors now face the task of assembling evidence that links the suspects to both the abduction and the killing, and of proving the reported ransom-related communications are authentic and legally attributable to those in custody.
For the community, the episode is a stark reminder of the potential for organised-crime conflicts to harm uninvolved citizens. Expect investigators to prioritise digital forensics, witness interviews and financial tracing in the coming weeks, and for courts to play a central role as charges are filed and tested.