Chris Baghsarian: Alleged coordinator of kidnapping, murder of 85-year-old grandfather charged
The alleged ringleader of the kidnapping and murder of grandfather Chris Baghsarian has been charged.
Chris Baghsarian went missing from his North Ryde home earlier this year in what police say was mistaken identity.
Emergency services were called just after 5am on February 13 following reports that the 85-year-old had been abducted from the property.
Officers from Ryde Police Area Command responded to the incident before detectives from the State Crime Command Robbery and Serious Crime Squad launched a co-ordinated investigation under the Chabot Strike Force.
Police claim that Mr. Baghsarian was not the real target of the kidnapping.
His body was later found at around 8am on February 24 near a golf club in Pitt Town, north-west of Sydney.
Seven people had previously been charged in connection with the kidnapping and death of Mr. Baghsarian.
On Tuesday morning police confirmed the arrest of a 32-year-old man believed to have coordinated the kidnapping and murder of Mr Baghsarian.
The man was arrested on February 23 as part of an unrelated investigation ongoing in the courts.
He was arrested in Lithgow on July 8 after detectives uncovered evidence implicating him in murder and kidnapping for ransom-related charges.
The detained person is expected to be brought to court on July 17.
Three more people have been charged in connection with the kidnapping and murder of Mr. Baghsarian.
A 22-year-old young man was arrested on July 9, and a 21-year-old and a 19-year-old were arrested on July 13.
The 22-year-old was charged with kidnapping and murder and was detained until July 17.
The 21-year-old man had been charged with kidnapping and murder, as well as drug possession, before the incident. He appeared in court on Monday.
The 19-year-old was charged with complicity in kidnapping and murder before the incident and is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
Investigations into the alleged kidnapping and murder of Mr Baghsarian are ongoing and police say they are trying to identify the “alleged overseas criminals” behind the crime.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
