Australian police have arrested two men suspected of murdering "Grandpa Sydney," who was a victim of a wrongful kidnapping in mid-February, prior to the discovery of the body on Monday.
Foreign news agencies reported on 25 Feb 2026 that Australian police arrested two men suspected of murdering Mr. Chris Bagzarian, known as "Grandpa Sydney," aged 85, who was the victim of what police called a "wrongful kidnapping." The arrests came just one day after human remains believed to be Bagzarian's were found.
Officials revealed that Bagzarian was abducted from his home in the North Ryde area after his house was raided in the early dawn hours of 13 Feb. Police confirmed he was not the intended target of the attack, which may have involved a family connected to a criminal organization.
On Wednesday (25 Feb), two men aged 24 and 29 were arrested at two separate residences and taken in for questioning. The arrests occurred less than 24 hours after police found a body believed to be Bagzarian's near a suburban golf course. No charges have been filed yet.
In the days following the kidnapping, police made multiple public appeals for the kidnappers to safely return Bagzarian, citing his health problems and the necessity of daily medication.
Authorities stated they are "more than confident" that a mistaken abduction occurred, as neither Bagzarian nor his family had any links to criminal organizations.
While a video showing Bagzarian injured circulated widely online, his family described the incident as an "unbelievable nightmare."
Police also disclosed that the discovery of two burned vehicles and a raid on an abandoned house in the Dural area led them to the Pitt Town area, where the deceased's body was found on Monday.
However, police declined to provide details about the condition of the body but said an autopsy will be conducted to officially confirm identity and determine the cause of death.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that wrongful kidnappings are becoming more common in Sydney's underground world as large criminal networks increasingly outsource crimes to third parties.
Last year, a 23-year-old plumber was shot dead at the entrance to his home in Condell Park, a case police also believe involved mistaken identity in a murder.
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Source:bbc