85-year-old kidnapped, murdered in apparent case of mistaken identity
Australian detectives arrested two men on Wednesday after an elderly grandfather was allegedly kidnapped and murdered in a suspicious incident. case of mistaken identity.
Chris Baghsarian, 85, was taken from his home in the Sydney suburb of North Ryde on February 13, but police said neither he nor his family had any connections to the underworld.
After a lengthy search, police found Baghsarian’s body near a golf club in Sydney’s northwest on Tuesday.
Robbery and crime squad detectives arrested a 24-year-old man and a 29-year-old man in two dawn raids in the city’s northwestern suburbs on Wednesday. the police said in a statement.
Video released by the police The footage shows police officers breaking into a property to arrest one of two suspects.
New South Wales Robbery and Serious Crime Unit Commander Andrew Marks said he expected the men “will be charged in connection with the abduction and murder of Mr Baghsarian”.
Marks, who has led the police investigation since Bagsarian’s disappearance, described it as a “horrible, horrific incident.”
“This is someone’s worst nightmare, isn’t it? It’s unacceptable that an innocent man was taken from his home,” he told reporters. “These people need to be held accountable for this.”
NSW Police and the SES are canvassing an area in Glenorie searching for 85-year-old grandfather Chris Baghsarian, who was abducted from his home in Glenorie, Australia, on February 13. February 23, 2026, Glenorie, Australia. / Source: Bianca De Marchi/via AAP/REUTERS
(via Bianca De Marchi/AAP/REUTERS)
Video and photos obtained by local media showed Baghsarian suffering serious injuries, including a severed finger.
The victim was a widow and lived alone.
In the statement shared through the police, his family said they “welcomed the news of the latest arrests regarding the kidnapping of our father and grandfather.”
“We ask that the media respect our privacy as we try to come to terms with this incident,” they added.
Marks had previously said he was “a million percent sure” the kidnappers had the wrong person.
Police believe his kidnappers instead targeted the relative of a convicted armed robber and the founder of a streetwear brand linked to the western Sydney-based Alameddine crime ring, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Screenshots shared on a social media channel covering Sydney’s underworld showed the kidnappers demanding an AU$50 million ($35.5 million) ransom for his release.
“Stupid stupid mistake,” the target calls them in messages seen by AFP.
“You messed with the wrong guy… Good luck next time.”
Police detective Marks said he saw the message Wednesday and said “this is the figure requested.”
The tragedy occurred half a world away from Tucson, Arizona, where authorities were searching. 84-year-old Nancy GuthrieShe is the mother of “Today” host Savannah Guthrie. The family offered a reward of up to 100 TL 1 million dollars For information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie, who went missing from her home on February 1st.
kidnapping and Savannah Guthrie’s emotional video attracts attention The accusations against his mother’s kidnappers attracted attention in the United States and made headlines around the world.
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