California tech millionaire accused of killing estranged wife was after money, prosecutors say

"The tech CEO husband of a Newport Beach woman whose body was found at the bottom of a mountain embankment in Crestline is accused of killing her during an apparently contentious divorce after she allegedly withdrew millions from an account they shared, court filings show. Gordon Abas Goodarzi, 66, is suspected of killing his estranged wife, philanthropist Aryan Papoli, 58, for financial gain, a prosecutor wrote in a sworn statement filed in San Bernardino County Superior Court."

"In the midst of a divorce, Papoli had withdrawn between $5 million and $8 million from a joint account, the prosecutor wrote. She made attempts to ensure that her children received those funds, the prosecutor wrote, but the defendant (Goodarzi) would financially benefit from the murder by being able to claim a right to the money. The prosecution statement was included in a filing seeking to block Goodarzi from being released from lockup prior to trial."

"Shortly before noon on Nov. 18, a woman's body was found roughly 75 feet down a steep mountain embankment near Highway 138 and Crestline Road in the San Bernardino Mountains. An autopsy found that the woman had suffered injuries consistent with a fall, and the coroner later determined that it was a homicide. Several days later, on Nov. 22, Papoli was reported missing in Newport Beach, where she had been living prior to her disappearance."

Gordon Abas Goodarzi, 66, is accused of killing his estranged wife, Aryan Papoli, 58, allegedly for financial gain during a divorce. Prosecutors allege Papoli withdrew $5 million to $8 million from a joint account and sought to secure the funds for her children, while Goodarzi would benefit by claiming a right to the money. Detectives found a woman's body Nov. 18 down a steep embankment near Highway 138 in Crestline; the coroner ruled it a homicide after injuries consistent with a fall. Papoli was reported missing Nov. 22 and identified Dec. 1. Goodarzi was arrested and charged Jan. 23; prosecutors sought to block his pretrial release, noting he holds an Iranian passport.

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