Chris Baghsarian: Dural, NSW, crime scene uncovered in hunt for kidnapped North Ryde grandfather
Police have raided a Sydney home linked to the mistaken kidnapping of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian, uncovering a grim development as the search intensifies.
A suburban property in Sydney’s north-west has been declared a key crime scene as detectives ramp up their search for kidnapped 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian.
Detectives identified the Dural address this week as part of their ongoing investigation into the alleged abduction of the North Ryde grandfather.
About 7pm on Thursday, strike force investigators executed a search warrant at the address as specialist teams continued efforts to locate Mr Baghsarian.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.In an update on Friday, police confirmed a significant development in the case.
“We have had a significant progression in the investigation, whereby we believe we have found the location where Mr Baghsarian was kept for some time,” Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks said.
“What we located was evidence to suggest Mr Baghsarian was held there at some stage during the last seven days.
Just after 5am on Friday, February 13, police were told the elderly man had been taken from his home, before local officers and detectives launched a coordinated recovery operation.
Early inquiries established Mr Baghsarian was not the intended target and had been abducted in a case of mistaken identity.
Mr Baghsarian was alone at his North Ryde home when a group of masked intruders allegedly arrived and forced him into a dark-coloured SUV before speeding away.
Media attention on the case has been widespread, and investigators are at a loss as to why Mr Baghsarian was not released once the perpetrators realised they had taken the wrong man.
“I don’t know why they have not released him. Other to say we put the appeal out to say they have the wrong man. What I can say is that to those that are responsible - please release Mr Baghsarian,” Det Supt Mark.
“Let us know where he is. We’re looking to get him the medical assistance and treatment that he requires and we’ll do the rest.
“Let us know where he is. Please put him somewhere safe, contact somebody, doesn’t have to be the police, but just contact somebody to say where Mr Baghsarian is and we’ll do the rest. We’ll take care of him.”
Detectives and hostage negotiators have spent the weekend examining Mr Baghsarian’s family and exploring potential links to organised crime or any history of criminal activity, which they have so far ruled out.
“What I can say to you is Mr Baghsarian and Mr Baghsarian’s family are not involved in any criminal world,” Det Supt Mark said.
“These kinds of offences usually involve those that are involved in organised crime networks.
“Their family are in distress. All they want is their father to be returned. Their grandfather to be returned. What I can say is that I’m a million per cent confident they have the wrong person.
“This is not a typical crime that happens, where the offenders have got the wrong person. It’s not an instance where they’re randomly taking people for the sake of it.
“They were intending to take somebody, but have taken the wrong person.
“They have kidnapped wrong person.”
The frail state of the elderly man and his need for daily medication has police particularly concerned about his wellbeing.
“He was wearing a flannelette shirt, a red and blue flannelette shirt, he was wearing a pair of grey pyjamas,” Det Supt Marks said.
As part of the expanding investigation, detectives began monitoring a property on Wildthorn Avenue in Dural, believed to have been used as a makeshift stronghold by those responsible.
When asked whether a severed finger had been located at the property, police declined to comment.
“I am not going to comment on anything along those lines,” the officer said.
Police say the investigation remains intensive, with officers working to both find the missing man and identify and arrest those responsible.
“It has been seven days now … hope is fading, but we won’t give up trying to find him alive,” the officer said.
Anyone who may have seen or heard anything relating to the kidnapping, or who witnessed suspicious activity in the Dural area since last Friday, is urged to contact detectives.
“Have you seen something in the last seven days?” Det Supt Mark asked.
“Have you seen people coming and going from that address?
“Even if you think it is insignificant information, let us be the judge of that.”
Police are also urging residents to review dashcam footage from the greater Dural area.
Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersnsw.com.au.
