Gerard Andrews, 29, and Daniel Stevens, 24, have been charged with the alleged kidnap and murder of 85-year-old Australian grandfather Chris Baghsarian, whose remains were discovered on Tuesday

Two men have been charged with the alleged kidnap and murder of an 85-year-old pensioner.

Gerard Andrews, 29, and Daniel Stevens, 24, are due in court on Thursday in connection with the disappearance of Chris Baghsarian, 85, whose remains were discovered on Tuesday.

The New South Wales (NSW) Police Force said they received a report that Mr Baghsarian had been kidnapped from his home in the suburb of North Ryde, around 9 miles northwest of Sydney, on 13 February just after 5am.

In a statement released on Wednesday, police said: "Early inquiries established that Chris Baghsarian was not the intended target of the kidnapping and had been taken in a case of mistaken identity. Human remains confirmed as being Mr Baghsarian were located about 8am yesterday (Tuesday 24 February 2026) near a golf club in Pitt Town."

Detectives stormed two properties on Wednesday morning, and were joined by the Raptor Squad, which targets serious and organised crime in Australia. Officers also carried out three search warrants in Kenthurst, Castle Hill and Lake Macquarie.

A 29-year-old man was seen being handcuffed and escorted out of a house in Kenthurst, while in Castle Hill, police detained a 24-year-old man. Officers also seized vehicles, electronics and clothing during the operation.

The investigation, dubbed Strike Force Chobat, was led by detectives from the State Crime Command's Robbery and Serious Crime Squad. Both men were charged with murder and kidnapping and refused bail.

Their arrests come after Mr Baghsarian's remains were tragically found in a field in Pitt Town, 11 days after he was kidnapped.

Police believe the duo had mistaken Mr Baghsarian for a man related to a Sydney businessman who lived on the same street - and who they had actually intended to kidnap.

It has been alleged that masked intruders forced the grandfather into a dark-coloured SUV in the middle of the night before he was taken to a property in Dural, beaten, and forced to film a hostage video. The tape was allegedly directed by a local crime boss before circulating through New South Wales' criminal circles.

After the kidnap, Mr Baghsarian's heartbroken family said: "We are struggling to make sense of the fact that he has been taken and that our family has been caught up in something that has nothing to do with us."

Gerard Andrews and Daniel Stevens are due to appear in Blacktown Local Court on Thursday.