Inset: Aryan Papoli (Navid Goodarzi). Background: Cops investigate the discovery of Papoli”s body down a 75-foot embankment in San Bernardino County, California (KABC).
The investigation into this grim case commenced just before noon on November 18, when Papoli’s body was found at the bottom of the “steep” embankment. Despite initial beliefs that her death resulted from an accidental fall, an autopsy later revealed her injuries were consistent with such an event. However, it took nearly two weeks to identify Papoli, who had been reported missing on November 22 from Newport Beach, a location approximately 75 miles away from where her body was discovered.
Upon identifying her, law enforcement officers embarked on an “extensive and persistent investigation,” which eventually pointed to Goodarzi as a suspect in the case. The medical examiner later classified Papoli’s death as a homicide, though authorities have not publicly disclosed a motive or detailed the circumstances surrounding her death.
Goodarzi was taken into custody at his home in Rolling Hills last Friday, marking a significant development in this ongoing investigation.
Once she was identified, deputies conducted an “extensive and persistent investigation” which led to identifying Goodarzi as a suspect. The medical examiner subsequently determined Papoli’s death was a homicide. Deputies did not publicly divulge a motive for the crime nor did they specify the events leading up to her death.
Goodarzi was arrested at his Rolling Hills home on Friday.
Navid Goodarzi, the 25-year-old son of the victim and suspect, told the Los Angeles Times in December that his mother escaped Iran during the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
“My mom was a ray of light, sunshine manifested,” her son told the Times. “She always gave 150% to herself and to everyone.”
The son declined to speak about the circumstances of his mother’s death, citing the ongoing investigation.
“It’s hard when I see my mom’s name and it’s just a sketch of this person who’s not her,” he said in an interview with the newspaper. “She was so full of inspiration and optimism at this moment of her life. Building a website to showcase her is something I wish I could have done when she was alive.”
Gordon Goodarzi is being held at the San Bernardino Central Detention Center without bond.
