Sydney Grandfather Tortured to Death in Mistaken Identity Kidnapping Plot
The funeral for 85-year-old Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian will be held on Thursday, following his alleged torture and murder in a horrific case of mistaken identity. Mr Baghsarian was dragged from his bed in North Ryde, in Sydney's northwest, on February 13 and was dead within 48 hours.
Funeral Arrangements and Court Proceedings
Funeral home EM Funerals has announced that the Baghsarian family will be accepting condolences at the Edgarian Hall of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Holy Resurrection in Chatswood from 6pm. Details of the funeral service for the elderly victim will be released shortly.
Meanwhile, Gerard Andrews, 29, and Daniel Stevens, 24, faced Blacktown Local Court in Sydney's west on Thursday over allegations they abducted and murdered Mr Baghsarian. The pair allegedly believed they were kidnapping Karo Stepanyan, the father of wealthy property developer Dimitri Stepanyan, who lives an extravagant lifestyle in Las Vegas and Monaco.
The Tragic Mistake and Brutal Aftermath
Instead of their intended target, the accused allegedly kidnapped 'kind and gentle' Mr Baghsarian. Andrews and Stevens are accused of forcing the elderly man into a car before later killing him at a secluded home in Dural. During this ordeal, they allegedly demanded a staggering $50 million ransom while holding the wrong hostage.
Police have obtained video evidence showing a man demanding Stepanyan's phone number from Mr Baghsarian. The victim's body was later discovered dumped in a field adjacent to a golf course at Pitt Town.
Investigation Developments and Suspect Backgrounds
In a significant development, sources close to the investigation revealed on Friday that the alleged 'mastermind' behind the kidnapping plot may have already fled overseas. Authorities are actively working to identify and track down this unknown figure, while also investigating whether the kidnapping was organised by someone outside Australia.
The backgrounds of the accused reveal surprising details. Gerard Andrews comes from an affluent Catholic family, lived in a lavish $5 million mansion in Kenthurst, and graduated from the exclusive $18,000-a-year Redfield College. He claimed to be midway through a cybersecurity degree at the University of Technology Sydney, but in a bizarre twist, UTS has confirmed Andrews is not a student and has no record of him undertaking any training.
Daniel Stevens, an apprentice carpenter, was described by shocked former colleagues as polite and well-mannered. He had worked on construction projects until being terminated from his job eight months ago for drink driving. Just weeks before the alleged crime, Stevens portrayed himself on social media as a doting uncle-in-waiting, sharing a picture of himself at a baby shower for his pregnant sister with the caption: 'Can't wait to meet the little guy.'
Police Investigation and Arrests
The circumstances that led police to arrest the two men are only now becoming clear. In what were described as humiliating scenes, police dragged both Andrews and Stevens from their respective parents' homes in north-west Sydney before charging them with the most serious of crimes.
The investigation continues as authorities work to unravel the full extent of this tragic case that has left a family mourning their beloved grandfather and a community in shock over the brutal nature of the alleged crime.
