Crestline, Calif. — A man has been charged with murder following the death of his estranged wife, whose body was discovered at the base of a cliff in November. Gordon Abas Goodarzi, 66, was taken into custody on January 23 after a comprehensive investigation by local authorities revealed new details surrounding the death of Aryan Papoli, 58.
The inquiry began when deputies received a report about a deceased individual near the intersection of Highway 138 and Crestline Road on November 18. Emergency personnel found Papoli’s body approximately 75 feet down a steep embankment in a remote area, prompting fire officials to assist in the recovery operation.
Initially, the investigators struggled to identify the victim, prompting the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to circulate a sketch in hopes of garnering public assistance. An autopsy later determined that Papoli suffered injuries consistent with a fall, leading the coroner to classify her death as a homicide.
By December 1, authorities identified Papoli through missing person reports after she was reported missing from Newport Beach, just a few days following the discovery of her body. Newport Beach police confirmed that her son filed the missing persons report on November 22, just four days post-discovery.
Navid Goodarzi, Papoli’s son, expressed his shock and heartbreak when he learned the news from the sheriff’s department shortly after Thanksgiving. “We were going through this frantic state, trying to find her, and then it feels like the wind gets knocked out of you when you learn the truth,” he shared a few weeks after the incident.
As the investigation progressed, law enforcement gathered enough evidence to lead to Goodarzi’s arrest at his residence in Rolling Hills. Reports suggest that the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Papoli’s death was thorough and prolonged, incorporating various angles as detectives sought to piece together the events.
Navid Goodarzi described his mother as an inspiring individual, characterizing her as “a ray of light” and someone who brought joy to everyone around her. An immigrant from Iran, Papoli moved to the United States at 18 after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, settling in the San Francisco Bay Area. Along with her husband, she helped establish a clean energy company and raised their two sons in Southern California.
In the years leading up to her death, Papoli relocated to Newport Beach, looking for a peaceful environment to pursue her artistic endeavors in retirement. Her son has crafted a website in her honor, showcasing her artwork and celebrating the vibrant life she lived.
Following his arrest, Goodarzi was remanded at the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino without bail. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on January 26 at 8:30 a.m. local time. The case continues to unfold as the community grapples with the tragic loss of Aryan Papoli and the implications of her untimely death.