Estranged husband accused of killing Newport Seashore lady Aryan Papoli

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After weeks of investigation, authorities have arrested the estranged husband of a Newport Beach woman whose physique was discovered down a steep embankment in a San Bernardino County mountain city in California.

Gordon Abas Goodarzi, 66, of Rolling Hills Estates, was arrested Friday on suspicion of murder within the dying of his longtime spouse and enterprise companion, Aryan Papoli, in accordance with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Division.

Papoli, 58, was discovered lifeless Nov. 18 about 75 toes beneath Freeway 138 close to Crestline Highway within the mountain group of Crestline. Whereas early findings famous accidents in line with a fall, the San Bernardino County Coroner later dominated her dying a murder.

Sheriff’s officers haven't disclosed how detectives linked Goodarzi to Papoli’s dying or whether or not a motive has been recognized, saying solely that an "intensive and protracted investigation into the circumstances" led them to establish him as a suspect. Goodarzi is being held with out bail on the Central Detention Middle.

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Aryan Papoli's husband was arrested on suspicion of homicide in her dying. (Aryan Papoli)

Court docket information present Papoli filed for divorce simply 5 months earlier than her dying, citing "irreconcilable variations," in accordance with paperwork obtained by The California Post. The June 12, 2025 submitting sought spousal assist and the division of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in shared belongings.

Greater than $4.5 million in property was at stake, the outlet reported, together with the Rolling Hills Estates dwelling the place Goodarzi was arrested, a residence in Chino Hills, industrial property in Massachusetts, vacant land in Southern California, and one other property in Crestline — the identical city the place Papoli’s physique was later discovered.

Papoli and Goodarzi had been married for 28 years. Goodarzi, an engineer and tech government, offered his clean-energy firm, US Hybrid, for $50 million in 2021, in accordance with The California Publish. Papoli’s divorce submitting requested that Goodarzi pay her authorized charges, whereas his response requested the court docket to have every get together cowl their very own prices.

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Aryan Papoli is proven in an undated photograph. Her estranged husband has been charged with homicide after Papoli’s physique was discovered on the backside of a cliff, authorities mentioned. (Aryan Papoli)

The divorce proceedings have been terminated Dec. 23 attributable to Papoli’s dying, in accordance with her legal professional.

Charging paperwork filed by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office allege Papoli was "significantly weak" and that the killing concerned "planning, sophistication, and professionalism," in accordance with the submitting.

Goodarzi’s arraignment, which was scheduled for Tuesday morning, was continued to Thursday, the DA’s workplace confirmed.

Papoli was not instantly recognized when her physique was found. Days later, Newport Seashore police confirmed a lacking individual report had been filed for her, and authorities formally recognized her stays on Dec. 1.

ARKANSAS WOMAN AND CHILDREN FOUND DEAD AT MANSION HOME DAY AFTER FINAL DIVORCE HEARING WITH ESTRANGED HUSBAND

Aryan Papoli is proven in an undated photograph. Authorities mentioned her physique was discovered on the backside of a cliff, and her estranged husband has been charged in connection together with her dying. (Aryan Papoli)

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times final month, Papoli’s son, Navid Goodarzi, mentioned his mom immigrated to the US from Iran as a younger lady and labored to construct a life centered on creativity, service and entrepreneurship.

"My mother was a ray of sunshine, sunshine manifested," he mentioned. "She all the time gave 150% to herself and to everybody."

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He declined to touch upon his mother and father’ relationship however mentioned they labored collectively for years and based a clean energy company .

Stepheny Value covers crime, together with lacking individuals, homicides and migrant crime. Ship story tricks to stepheny.value@fox.com.

Stepheny Value is a Author at Fox News with a concentrate on West Coast and Midwest information, lacking individuals, nationwide and worldwide crime tales, murder circumstances, and border safety.