Suspected human remains have been found in Sydney’s north-west during the search for abducted grandfather Chris Baghsarian, in a case police have described as a likely mistaken-identity kidnapping.
New South Wales Police say the 85-year-old was taken from his North Ryde home about 5:00am on February 13, when he was allegedly bundled into an SUV. Investigators believe he was not the intended target of the abduction plot, a theory that has shaped the direction of the investigation since the early days of the case.
Suspected remains located near Pitt Town
Detectives say the suspected remains were located near a golf club at Pitt Town, on Sydney’s north-west fringes, at about 8:00am on Tuesday. A substantial police presence moved into the area as specialist officers began recovery efforts and forensic examination.
The operation is being coordinated by the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad as part of Strike Force Chobat, with investigators working to confirm the identity of the remains through forensic testing.
Police focus on mistaken-identity theory
Police have been clear in public messaging that Mr Baghsarian was likely taken in error. The alleged kidnapping has been treated as unusually brazen, with investigators pointing to planning and logistics that appear inconsistent with a spontaneous assault.
Law enforcement sources indicated the offenders may have been targeting an individual believed to have links to Sydney’s organised crime ecosystem, with reporting suggesting the intended target may have been associated with the Alameddine crime family. Police have not alleged Mr Baghsarian had any involvement, and investigators have framed the case as a family being pulled into a violent criminal plot through mistake.
A widening search across Sydney’s north-west
The investigation intensified over the past week as detectives traced a trail across several suburbs. Police linked a property in Dural to the alleged captors, a development that widened the geographic focus beyond North Ryde. Officers then shifted to dense bushland around Glenorie, roughly 19 kilometres from Pitt Town, after reported sightings of a grey Toyota Corolla.
That car was later found set alight, and police allege it was stolen. Investigators located a blood-stained carpet in the boot, believed to have come from the Dural property, deepening concerns about Mr Baghsarian’s condition and increasing pressure on those involved to come forward.
Footage, appeals, and no ransom demand
Shortly after the abduction, images and video circulated showing Mr Baghsarian restrained and being assaulted, prompting urgent public concern and repeated police appeals. Investigators said the footage appeared consistent with the Dural property where they believe he was held.
CCTV footage captured movement on the North Ryde street in the moments before and after the early-morning kidnapping. Police also appealed directly to the kidnappers, stressing Mr Baghsarian required daily medication and urging his safe return.
Despite the high-profile nature of the case and extensive public attention, police said the family had not received a ransom demand, a detail that investigators viewed as significant as they assessed motive and the structure of the alleged plot.
Family describes a nightmare
In an earlier statement, Mr Baghsarian’s family described the kidnapping as “surreal,” saying they were struggling to understand how their loved one had been taken and why their family had been caught up in a situation they said had nothing to do with them.
They described Chris as a devoted father, brother, uncle, and grandfather, adding that he was deeply loved and gentle. The discovery of suspected remains now adds a devastating new dimension to those fears, pending formal identification by forensic specialists.
Investigation continues
Police say the hunt for those responsible is ongoing, with detectives continuing to pursue lines of inquiry tied to the abduction route, associated vehicles, and locations examined during the search. Confirmation of the identity of the remains will be subject to forensic processes, and investigators have not announced any arrests in connection with the discovery.
For more reporting and official updates from the original coverage, read the full report from ABC News.
