Authorities in California have apprehended the separated husband of a woman whose body was discovered at the base of a steep incline late last year.
The remains of 58-year-old Aryan Papoli were located on November 18, as reported by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Her identity was not confirmed until two weeks following the discovery.
An autopsy revealed that her fatal wounds were indicative of a fall, leading the coroner to classify her death as a homicide.
Investigators focused on her estranged spouse, 66-year-old Gordon Abas Goodarzi, as a potential perpetrator and took him into custody on Friday.
On Sunday, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office revealed that Goodarzi faces murder charges, including aggravating circumstances.
Currently detained without the possibility of bail, he is scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday.
According to British tabloid The Daily Mail, Goodarzi and Papoli founded a clean energy company, US Hybrid, that produced components of commercial and military vehicles. They sold the company in 2021 for $50 million in a cash and stock deal.
Court documents allege that Goodarzi killed Papoli in “an attempted or actual taking or damage of great monetary value.”
