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Authorities have arrested the estranged husband of a Newport Beach woman whose body was discovered down an embankment in a San Bernardino County mountain area in California. This development comes after weeks of extensive investigation.
Gordon Abas Goodarzi, aged 66 and a resident of Rolling Hills Estates, was taken into custody on suspicion of murder. His wife, Aryan Papoli, aged 58, was found dead on November 18, approximately 75 feet below Highway 138 near Crestline Road, in the mountain community of Crestline.
Initially, investigators noted injuries indicative of a fall. However, the San Bernardino County Coroner later classified her death as a homicide, raising numerous questions about the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.
Sheriff’s officials have withheld specific details on how detectives linked Goodarzi to the death of his wife. They have not disclosed whether a motive has been uncovered, only indicating that a thorough and persistent investigation into the circumstances led to his identification as a suspect. Currently, Goodarzi is being held without bail at the Central Detention Center.
Court Filings Reveal Divorce Proceedings
Court records show that Papoli had filed for divorce just five months before her death, citing irreconcilable differences. This filing, which occurred on June 12, 2025, requested spousal support and the division of millions in shared assets.
The value of the properties at stake exceeds $4.5 million. This includes their home in Rolling Hills Estates, a property in Chino Hills, industrial land in Massachusetts, vacant land in Southern California, and another property in Crestline, the same area where Papoli’s body was later found.
Papoli and Goodarzi shared 28 years of marriage. Goodarzi, who is noted for his background as an engineer and tech executive, sold his clean energy company, US Hybrid, for $50 million in 2021. According to documents, Papoli’s divorce filing requested that Goodarzi cover her legal fees, while his response asked the court for each party to bear its own costs.
Details Emerge from the Investigation
The divorce proceedings were rendered void on December 23 because of Papoli’s untimely death. Charging documents submitted by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office allege that Papoli was “particularly vulnerable”. Furthermore, they claim that the murder involved “planning, sophistication, and professionalism”, indicating that the circumstances of her death could have been premeditated.
Goodarzi was scheduled to appear for his arraignment on Tuesday morning, but it has since been continued to Thursday, as confirmed by the District Attorney’s office.
Initial reports did not immediately identify Papoli when her body was discovered. Days later, police in Newport Beach confirmed that a missing person report had been filed for her, and authorities formally identified her remains on December 1.
Witness Statements and Family Perspectives
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times last month, Papoli’s son, Navid Goodarzi, shared that his mother immigrated to the United States from Iran as a young woman, focusing her life on creativity, service, and entrepreneurship. He described his mother as a vibrant person, saying, “My mom was a ray of light, sunshine manifested. She always gave 150% to herself and to everyone.”
He refrained from commenting on the relationship between his parents, though he did note their long-standing collaboration in founding a clean energy company, highlighting their professional partnership.
This tragic case has captured the attention of the community and raises questions not only about the circumstances of Papoli’s death, but also about the implications of wealth and relationships entwined in such a catastrophic event. As more information surfaces, the public remains eager for answers regarding this unsettling turn of events.
As investigations continue, it becomes apparent that the road to uncovering the truth behind Aryan Papoli’s death will involve more than just legal proceedings. The intersection of personal, financial, and emotional factors may play a significant role in how this case unfolds in the coming weeks.
