Robbery & Serious Crime Squad detectives investigating the alleged kidnapping and murder of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian are appealing for public assistance to identify a man.
Just after 5am on Friday 13 February 2026, officers from Ryde Police Area Command received a report that an 85-year-old man had been kidnapped from his home in North Ryde.
Local police attended before detectives attached to State Crime Command’s Robbery & Serious Crime Squad began a coordinated response to recover the man under Strike Force Chabot.
Early inquiries established that Chris Baghsarian was not the intended target of the kidnapping and had been taken in a case of mistaken identity.
Mr Baghsarian’s remains were located about 8am on Tuesday 24 February 2026 near a golf club in Pitt Town.
Four people have previously been charged and remain before the courts.
As inquiries continue, strike force detectives have released CCTV images of a man who may be able to assist with their inquiries.
The man is seen in a hardware store in Leppington about 7.30am on Wednesday 11 February 2026.
He is described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, between 175cm – 185cm tall, of medium build, with long brown hair and a beard. He was wearing a lime green t-shirt and black shorts with white runners.
Anyone with information about the identity of the man is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
