Human Remains Discovered in Search for Australian Grandfather Kidnapped in Mistaken Identity
Police in Australia have confirmed the discovery of human remains believed to be those of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian, a widower and grandfather who was forcibly taken from his home in what authorities describe as a shocking case of mistaken identity.
Discovery Near Golf Club and Police Investigation
New South Wales acting detective superintendent Andrew Marks announced the grim find on Tuesday, revealing that the remains were located near Linwood Golf Club in Pitt Town, approximately 46 kilometres from Baghsarian's residence in North Ryde.
"We suspect those remains to be Mr Baghsarian," Mr Marks stated. "There will be a formal process to try and identify those remains, there will be forensic examination of the remains."
The discovery comes ten days after Baghsarian was abducted just before 5am on 13 February, with CCTV footage capturing a group of masked men bundling him into an SUV, prompting an immediate and extensive police search.
Mistaken Identity and Criminal Connections
Investigators firmly believe that Baghsarian was not the intended target of the kidnapping. According to reports from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the kidnappers may have been aiming for a relative of Sydney businessman Dimitri Stepanyan, a convicted armed robber with alleged links to the Alameddine crime family.
Messages reviewed by the ABC reportedly indicate that the kidnappers realised their error, yet Baghsarian's family never received any ransom demand.
"They were intending to take somebody, but have taken the wrong person," Mr Marks explained in the days following the abduction. "The family are in distress. All they want is their father to be returned, their grandfather to be returned."
Forensic Evidence and Vehicle Tracing
In the aftermath of the kidnapping, police located a burnt-out grey Toyota Corolla with cloned Victorian plates (DVT 007), which was believed to be stolen. The vehicle was sighted in Glenorie on the night of 14 February and later in Pitt Town at 9.05pm, before being set alight in Westmead on 16 February.
"We've traced that vehicle that we suspect was involved and that can forensically link the vehicle to Mr Baghsarian, and to the stronghold that we have spoken about in Dural," Mr Marks detailed.
Forensic evidence inside the car connected it to a derelict property in Dural, which police suspect served as a makeshift stronghold for the kidnappers. "Putting that together is why we believe it's Mr Baghsarian," Mr Marks added, noting that the property was suspicious and uninhabited among other homes in the area.
Appeals for Safe Return and Family Anguish
Footage circulating in Sydney's underworld reportedly showed Baghsarian tied up and seriously injured. Detectives repeatedly appealed to the kidnappers for the elderly man's safe return, highlighting his urgent need for daily medication.
New South Wales premier Chris Minns had even suggested that the kidnappers drop Baghsarian off at a shopping centre, emergency department, or nursing home to ensure his safety.
Baghsarian's family expressed their devastation in a statement earlier, saying: "Our family is living through a nightmare we never thought possible. We are struggling to make sense of the fact that he has been taken and that our family has been caught up in something that has nothing to do with us."
The statement continued: "Chris is a devoted father, brother, uncle, and grandfather. He is deeply loved, gentle, and the kindest person we know – someone who would never hurt a fly."
Ongoing Investigation and Public Appeal
Mr Marks emphasised that police will continue to utilise every available resource to identify and apprehend those responsible for this heinous crime. "We're all outraged this would happen to an innocent man ... [and] we will continue to investigate to identify those responsible and bring them before the courts," he vowed.
Authorities are still appealing to the public for any information or footage related to the grey Toyota Corolla in the North Ryde, Glenorie, or Pitt Town areas, as the investigation into this tragic case of mistaken identity continues.
