Identity of 'major player' charged with Sydney grandfather's murder revealed

Wednesday, 25 March 2026 08:17

Police allege the man played a role in facilitating the mistaken identity kidnapping and murder of a Sydney widower.

A 23-year-old man has been charged over the alleged kidnapping and murder of Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian.

Police will allege Delkin Donnelly, who was arrested at his Seven Hills home this morning, facilitated the kidnapping and recruited other people to carry out the detention of the 85-year-old Baghsarian.

The widower was taken from his home in North Ryde on February 13th, though police later found he was not the intended target.

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His remains were found 11 days later near a golf club in Pitt Town in Sydney's north-west.

Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks said police would also allege the 23-year-old was responsible for organising the disposal of Baghsarian's remains after he died at a property in Dural, where it is alleged he was detained.

"[We believe] he is not the highest, but a major player in this matter," Marks said.

"That he arranged the kidnapping, he facilitated others to assist in that kidnapping, he facilitated others to detain Mr Baghsarian, hold him at the property in Dural, and also gave directions in the disposal of the body," he alleged.

Donnelly was charged with multiple offences, including murder, taking and detaining in company with intent to ransom, occasioning actual bodily harm, and possessing an unauthorised firearm.

He was also hit with other weapons and drug charges after a shotgun, handgun and drugs were seized from his home, and was refused bail to appear in court tomorrow.

Marks said a breakthrough came when CCTV of three people in the Dural area was released last week, as well as images of a blue Hyundai believed to be connected to the crime.

The 23-year-old man was allegedly a "major player" in the alleged kidnapping and murder of Chris Baghsarian.

The car had been found burnt out on February 26 at Glenbrook train station in the Blue Mountains.

Marks said police will allege Donnelly was the man holding the phone with the torch on in the CCTV footage, and will also claim he was at Baghsarian's North Ryde home when he was taken.

Donnely's partner was also arrested at the scene, but not in relation to the alleged kidnapping and murder of Baghsarian.

She was charged with contravening a domestic violence order and was released on bail.

The 23-year-old man is the third person arrested in connection with Baghsarian's death.

Daniel Stevens, 24, and Gerard Andrews, 29, are alleged to have "participated in a joint criminal enterprise with other persons" that led to Baghsarian's death. The pair remain before the courts.

Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks believes a property at Dural was the central meeting point for different groups allegedly involved in the crime.

Police believe the man arrested today knew either Stevens or Andrews, but clarified that the pair were not pictured in the CCTV footage released last week.

Marks said police believe up to nine people were involved in the alleged kidnapping and murder, and that they may have been part of different groups.

He said the house at Dural, where Baghsarian was allegedly kept, would have acted as a meeting point for many of the alleged offenders.

There was a group of people who played significant roles in the entire offence," he said.

There was some crossover from the [North Ryde] house to Dural, and the disposal of remains.

"Those persons were all involved in certain aspects [and] the central point would have been Dural."

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