A tech CEO has been arrested and charged with first-degree aggravated murder in connection with the death of his estranged wife.
Gordon Abbas Goodarzipresident of Magmotor Technologies, was arrested Friday, Jan. 23, at his home in Rolling Hills Estates in Los Angeles County after a coroner determined that his wife, Papoli ariahe had been killed. Her body was found at the bottom of a 75-foot embankment in Crestline, California on November 18, 2025, but she was not identified for approximately two weeks.
After an “extensive and persistent investigation into the circumstances of her death,” Goodarzi, 66, was named as a suspect.
Goodarzi is accused of plotting his wife’s murder with “planning, sophistication or professionalism” in a crime that was “an attempt to take or harm actual or large monetary value,” according to charging documents obtained by the New York Post.
“From the initial response on a steep embankment to the extensive investigation that followed, this case reflects the combined efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies,” said the district attorney. Jason Anderson said in a statement. “We are grateful for their coordination throughout the investigation and extend our sincere thanks to the Newport Beach Police Department and the Orange County District Attorney. Todd Spitzer for their assistance and collaboration”.
Goodarzi is currently being held at the San Bernardino County West Valley Detention Center, according to police records. He is not entitled to bail. (People are often ineligible for bail if they are deemed to be a flight risk, a danger to their community or highly likely to reoffend, according to LLP Corin Eisner. Other circumstances, such as failure to appear in court, lengthy criminal records, and more, can also make a person ineligible for bail.)
He is scheduled to appear in court at the San Bernardino Justice Center for his arraignment on Tuesday, January 27.
Papoli was born in Iran and moved to San Francisco, California when he was 18 years old. She met Goodarzi approximately 10 years later and they welcomed two sons, Navid and Milad Goodarzi, during their marriage.
Goodarzi and Papoli were not only romantic partners, they also did business together. They founded a clean energy company, US Hybrid, in the late 1990s. The company was later bought by Ideanomics for $50 million in a cash and stock deal in 2021.
In 2008, Goodarzi became the CEO of Magmotor Technologies Inc., according to his LinkedIn account
The couple separated at the time of Papoli’s death.
Fitness influencer Gloria Zamora shared that she was ending her marriage days before her estranged husband killed her while she was on a date with another man. “Like a year and a half ago, that’s when my whole second marriage started to fall apart because obviously I’m devoting time to fitness and trying to grow something”, Zamora, (…)
Reflecting on his life, Navid described his mother as a “supermom” and a “ray of light” who “always gave 150% to herself and everyone,” in a recent interview with The Los Angeles Times.
“It’s hard when I see my mom’s name and it’s just a sketch of this person that’s not her,” she told the channel. “She was so full of inspiration and optimism at this time in her life. Creating a website to showcase her is something I wish I could have done when she was alive.”
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Special Investigations Division at 909-890-4904. Individuals wishing to remain anonymous should contact We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or go to wetip.com.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assistance.