Robbery & Serious Crime Squad detectives have charged two men in relation to the alleged kidnapping and murder of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian.
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 Chobat.
Early inquiries established that Chris Baghsarian was not the intended target of the kidnapping and had been taken in a case of mistaken identity.
Human remains confirmed as being Mr Baghsarian were located about 8am yesterday (Tuesday 24 February 2026) near a golf club in Pitt Town.
Following extensive inquiries, about 6.30am today (Wednesday 25 February 2026), strike force detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad – executed three search warrants in Kenthurst, Castle Hill and Lake Macquarie.
During the warrants, police seized vehicles, electronics, and clothing relevant to their investigation.
At the Kenthurst address, police arrested a 29-year-old man.
In Castle Hill, police arrested a 24-year-old man.
The men were taken to Riverstone Police Station, where they were charged with murder and take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm.
They were refused bail to appear in Blacktown Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 26 February 2026).
