Sydney grandfather’s remains found after mistaken kidnapping case

Published: 24 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Australian police have discovered human remains believed to be those of an elderly Sydney grandfather, whose dramatic abduction earlier this month is now understood to have been a case of mistaken identity, authorities confirmed on 24 February 2026. The grim discovery marks a tragic turn in the search for 85‑year‑old Chris Baghsarian, who was abducted from his North Ryde home on 13 February by three armed men in what investigators now say was not intended to target him.

Baghsarian was seized in the early hours of the morning, bundled into a dark SUV and taken from his bedroom around 5 a.m., sparking a large‑scale police operation across north‑west Sydney. From the outset, detectives emphasised that the widower — a gentle widower with no known links to organised crime — was almost certainly the wrong man. Investigators believe the kidnappers were instead targeting someone connected with an organised crime network, possibly involving figures tied to Sydney’s underworld.

Over the past week, officers have combed semi‑rural bushland in the Sydney northern outskirts, tracing forensic evidence linked to the case. A burnt‑out stolen grey Toyota Corolla that had been sighted near Glenorie shortly after the abduction – and later found on fire in Westmead – yielded blood‑stained items and other clues that helped piece together the investigation. The vehicle and other evidence were linked to an abandoned house in Dural, thought to have been used as a temporary holding site by the kidnappers.

On Tuesday morning, detectives located what are believed to be human remains near a golf club in Pitt Town, roughly 30 minutes by road from the Dural site. Police stress that formal forensic testing is required to positively identify the remains, but officers involved in the search said they are confident the discovery is connected to Baghsarian’s disappearance.

Police have repeatedly appealed to the public for dashcam footage, phone recordings or any other information that could help identify those responsible. New South Wales Robbery and Serious Crime Squad Commander Detective Chief Superintendent Andrew Marks condemned the incident, saying the authorities are “outraged this could happen to an innocent man,” and pledging to pursue those accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

Baghsarian’s family, devastated by recent developments, described the ordeal as “a nightmare we never thought possible,” and have asked for privacy as the investigation continues. From the outset, police had warned that the elderly man, who relies on daily medication, was in significant danger. There was no ransom demand made to the family at any point, adding to the confusion and urgency of the case.

The circumstances surrounding the mistaken kidnapping have raised questions about how criminal gangs operate and how such grave errors can occur during targeted abductions. Police have not yet made any arrests, and investigations under Strike Force Chobat — the task force handling the case — remain active as officers seek to piece together the chain of events that led to Baghsarian’s disappearance and death.

Read More At>>