California CEO and electric vehicle pioneer arrested, accused of murder

Officials arrested California tech CEO Gordon Abas Goodarzi, 66, in connection with his estranged wife’s murder, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

On Nov. 18, 2025, officials received a call about a dead body about 75 feet down a steep embankment in the San Bernardino area, later identifying the victim as 58 year old Aryan Papoli. According to officials, the coroner later determined the manner of death to be a homicide following an autopsy of the body. Authorities released an update in the case on Saturday revealing officials arrested Goodarzi in connection to the murder of Papoli, arresting him at his home.

Goodarzi is listed publicly as Magmotor Technologies Inc’s president and CEO, which serves as a “motor manufacturer that specializes in providing cost-effective electromechanical motion control solutions to equipment manufactures serving several high-tech industrial markets including: Automation, Automotive, Robotics, Semiconductor, Battlebots, Medical Devices,” according to his LinkedIn.

The 66 years old was also involved in a tech company called US Hybrid, which developed “high-performance Electric powertrain components and systems for medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles and special purpose Military systems.” Listed as their founder, CEO and president, Goodarzi notably later sold the company in 2021 for an estimated $50 million.

Both Goodarzi and Papoli were originally from Iran before settling into their Los Angeles County community, according to the SF Gate.

However, in June 2025, Papoli and Goodarzi were in the middle of a divorce, with the late wife citing “irreconcilable differences,” the California Post reported. Papoli, at the time, had been seeking spousal supporter for their two children, with a handful of properties worth millions that would have potentially been divided, according to the outlet.

Reportedly six months prior to Papoli’s murder she had moved to Newport Beach, as her son Navid Goodarzi told the Los Angeles Times she was seeking “serene place to thrive creatively” post retirement.

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