Overview
- San Bernardino County prosecutors have charged Goodarzi, 66, with murder in the death of his estranged wife, Aryan Papoli, and arrested him on Jan. 23 at his Rolling Hills home.
- The special-circumstance filing alleges financial gain and “lying in wait,” exposing Goodarzi to life without parole or the death penalty.
- Court papers state Papoli, 58, withdrew between $5 million and $8 million from a joint account and assert Goodarzi would benefit from the funds if she were dead.
- Papoli’s body was found Nov. 18 down a steep embankment near Crestline, and the coroner later determined the death was a homicide.
- Prosecutors are urging that he remain detained, citing significant assets and an Iranian passport as flight-risk factors, and court records list arraignment for Feb. 10.