SoCal Tech CEO Accused of Killing Wife to Stop Her From Giving Millions to Their Sons

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The wealthy tech tycoon Gordon Abas Goodarzi allegedly shoved his wife Aryan Papoli from a SoCal mountain, killing her, in order to stop her from siphoning millions from their joint bank account and splitting the couple's lavish properties between their two sons, according to new court documents.

Why it matters

This case highlights the lengths some individuals may go to in order to maintain control over significant financial assets, even resorting to violence. It also raises questions about the dynamics within high-net-worth families and the potential for inheritance disputes to turn deadly.

The details

According to a probable cause affidavit, Papoli had withdrawn $5 to $8 million from the bank account she shared with Goodarzi and had plans to split the couple's lavish properties between their two sons. Prosecutors claim "the murder in part was committed for that financial gain" and "the defendant would financially benefit from the murder by being able to claim a right to the money."

• Goodarzi made a brief appearance in San Bernardino County court on Tuesday for an arraignment that was postponed until Thursday.
• The incident occurred in SoCal, though the exact date is unclear from the available information.

What’s next

Goodarzi's arraignment, which was postponed from Tuesday, is now scheduled for Thursday in San Bernardino County court.