New South Wales police have charged a man with coordinating the kidnapping and murder of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian [1].
The arrest marks a significant escalation in a case that has shocked the Sydney community due to the age of the victim and the nature of the crime.
Authorities announced the charges on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 [1, 2]. The man is accused of organizing the abduction and subsequent killing of Baghsarian, who was taken from his home in North Ryde [1, 3]. Police said the killing was a case of mistaken identity [1, 2, 4].
This latest development follows the previous charging of two other men, 29-year-old Gerard Andrews and 24-year-old Daniel Stevens [3]. In total, four additional people, including the alleged coordinator, have now been charged in connection with the crime [1].
The investigation began after Baghsarian was kidnapped in February 2026 [5]. His remains were later discovered near the Pitt Town golf club in New South Wales [3].
Police have not released the name of the man accused of coordinating the attack. The investigation continues as officials work to determine the original target of the abduction and the motives behind the operation.
“Police said the killing was a case of mistaken identity”
The classification of this crime as a 'mistaken identity' suggests that the suspects were targeting a specific individual and erroneously abducted Baghsarian. The arrest of a coordinator indicates that police have moved beyond the immediate perpetrators to dismantle the organizational structure behind the kidnapping.
