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Tech Millionaire Charged in Estranged Wife's Murder
26 Jan
Summary
- Husband charged with murder after wife found at bottom of embankment.
- Death ruled homicide; crime was financially motivated and calculated.
- Victim was a tech entrepreneur pursuing retirement and art.
Gordon Abas Goodarzi, 68, of Newport Beach, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his estranged wife, Aryan Papoli. Papoli, 58, was found deceased at the bottom of a 75-foot embankment in Crestline on November 18, 2025. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department announced the arrest on Saturday, following an extensive investigation.
The coroner's review determined Papoli's death to be a homicide, with charging documents alleging the crime was financially motivated and executed with significant planning and sophistication. Goodarzi has been booked without bail into the San Bernardino Central Detention Center.
Papoli, a socialite and entrepreneur, had recently moved to Newport Beach for a creative retirement, pursuing interests in sculpting, painting, dance, and photography. She was also involved with several art and garden organizations. Her son described her as a "ray of light" and a "supermom."
Authorities received a missing-person report for Papoli on November 22, 2025, after her body had already been discovered and recovered by the San Bernardino County Fire Department. The initial autopsy findings were consistent with a fall, but further review confirmed the homicide. Papoli and Goodarzi co-founded US Hybrid, a clean energy company sold in 2021 for $50 million.
Goodarzi is scheduled for arraignment on the murder charges on Tuesday, January 28, 2026. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to process the details of the case.
