Australia Australia - Chris Baghsarian, 85, Sydney, Kidnapped 13 February 2026

[Strangeworld]

https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/crime/breakthrough-in-search-for-chris-baghsarian-85-kidnapped-from-sydney-home/news-story/5cce6c316391da3cc84a20b6771cb814

‘Hope is fading’: Grave concerns for Chris Baghsarian, 85, after bombshell discovery​

The crooks behind the kidnapping of a Sydney grandfather sent a hostage video to the family they intended to target - but the family did not recognise the elderly frail victim, according to police sources.

It is understood the target family - who are believed to have links to Sydney’s drug underworld - shared the information with police because they did not recognise Chris Baghsarian, who was pinched from his home in North Ryde at 5am on Friday.

The intended target was instead a known criminal who had family members in the neighbourhood.

Text messages allegedly between the kidnappers and the intended family seen by news.com.au say: “Dumb dumb error, how did use get the wrong house”.

In another text: “My old man would have blown your head off.”


Then: “Good luck, one of your team will give you up”.

This is so incredibly sad - imagine the confusion Chris would have suffered and then to be treated the way he has been treated. At least there is a trail that police can follow having a substantial understanding of who (broadly) is involved IMO. Reassuring that the family of the target were willing to disclose the texts to police. Hoping he is still alive but even his wounds at his age could be life-threatening if he hasn't had some sort of medical treatment.

 

[Lisbeth_S]

They seem to be doing a good job following the trail....Sadly it may be too late for Chris.

I don't think the kidnappers had any intention of returning him anyway, even after realising he was the wrong guy.

This is so incredibly sad - imagine the confusion Chris would have suffered and then to be treated the way he has been treated. At least there is a trail that police can follow having a substantial understanding of who (broadly) is involved IMO. Reassuring that the family of the target were willing to disclose the texts to police. Hoping he is still alive but even his wounds at his age could be life-threatening if he hasn't had some sort of medical treatment.

It's sickening to think of what the poor man has possibly been enduring, and I can only begin to imagine how the family is feeling.

 

[sunspun]

What idiocy!

So what is their purpose in keeping him now that they know it's the wrong guy? Why not just leave him somewhere in public? They sound like some dumb criminals in a movie -- a COMEDY movie. How can they be real?

 

[LadyL]

very disturbing
poor Chris

 

[sunspun]

So they've had him for over a week now? Sadly, I don't think they'll be returning him. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[CooperDyl]

Chris Baghsarian: Police search home as hunt for kidnapped Sydney grandfather continues

A property in Glenorie (about 10kms north of Dural) was ‘surrounded’ today, with a police helicopter circling the location until around 7pm and police officers remaining afterwards. Doesn’t sound like anybody was found there but hopefully we hear if some evidence was located or the investigation progressed.

 

[dotr]

Sydney & New South Wales news | 7NEWS Australia
Feb 22, 2026

'We have new details tonight in the botched kidnapping of an 85-year-old grandfather. Police have revealed they have crucial new evidence after finding a car used in the abduction. We can also show you inside the house where he was held hostage.'

 

[Via Marple]

Chris Baghsarian: Police search home as hunt for kidnapped Sydney grandfather continues

amp-9news-com-au.cdn.ampproject.org

Images from inside that now-abandoned house have now been released.

I think the kidnappers may now be on the run, perhaps trying to leave the country. Don't think they are taking the hostage with them MOO