Chris Baghsarian alleged kidnap, murder: Twelfth person arrested, charged over pensioner’s death

A woman has been charged with assisting the alleged killers of Sydney pensioner Chris Baghsarian, who was found dead after being taken from his home in February.

The woman, 51, was arrested at Lethbridge Park in Sydney’s west just after 10.40am on Tuesday and has since been charged with accessory after the fact to murder in relation to the 85-year-old’s death.

The woman is one of 12 people who have been arrested in the aftermath of the shocking incident that rocked Sydney in February.

Mr Baghsarian was allegedly kidnapped from his home in North Ryde early on February 13 in what investigators believe was a “case of mistaken identity”.

Twelve days later, Mr Baghsarian’s remains were found dumped near a golf club at Pitt Town, in Sydney’s north west, and the first arrests came less than a week later.

The man who allegedly kidnapped Mr Baghsarian was arrested along with three other individuals in July, according to police.

Alesana Schaaf, 32, was arrested in Lithgow in the NSW Central Tablelands on July 8 after police uncovered evidence they said proved he was “directly responsible” for the alleged kidnapping.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Marks said the “main persons” had been arrested and alleged Mr Schaaf “physically kidnapped Mr Baghsarian”.

“He detained Mr Baghsarian and took him to the property in Dural,” Superintendent Marks alleged shortly after the arrest in July.

“We are investigating (the organised crime network) link and we are continuing to investigate those that are (allegedly) responsible took out a contract to kidnap an elderly person – not Mr Baghsarian but another person,” he said.

“We will continue to investigate that and bring those responsible that brought that contract to be held to account for that.”

More to come...