Tech CEO Accused of ‘Lying in Wait’ to Kill Estranged Wife Who Was Initially Believed to Have Died from Fall By Samira Asma-Sadeque

A California tech CEO has been charged in connection with the death of his estranged wife, whose body was found down a steep embankment in November.

The victim, 58-year-old Aryan Papoli, was found dead on Nov. 18, a few days after she went missing, according to the San Bernardino District Attorney’s Office. Officers responding to the report of a deceased person found her body down a steep, 75-foot-high embankment near Twin Peaks, Calif.

Nearly two months later, on Jan. 23, her estranged husband, 66-year-old Gordon Abas Goodarzi, was charged with murder, the DA’s announced last month.

“Initially, they determined her injuries to be consistent with a fall,” Jenny Smith, a spokesperson with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, told KTLA. “But after our coroner’s office reviewed her circumstances further, they decided that it was a homicide.”  

In a criminal complaint, San Bernardino authorities allege the crime involved “planning, sophistication, or professionalism.”

In an amended complaint reviewed by KTLA, authorities accuse Goodrazi of “lying in wait” before the killing, which they allege was motivated by “financial gain.”

Papoli was an artist based in Newport Beach, according to her website, which shows an extensive collection of her work, including paintings and ceramics.

In a note on the website, her children posted a loving message announcing her death.

“Aryan Papoli spread light, love and joy wherever she went,” read part of the note, describing her as an artist, businesswoman, philanthropist, environmentalist and inspiration.

“Aryan’s passion for creative expression was only matched by her care for those she loved,” the note added.

Her Linkedin also lists her as the CFO of Magmotor Technologies Inc., a motor company that serves high-tech industrial markets including medical devices and robotics, according to its website.

Goodarzi is the President and CEO of the company, per his Linkedin.

PEOPLE has reached out to Magmotor Technologies for comments.

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Goodarzi has been charged with felony murder and is set to be arraigned on Feb. 10, online court records show.

Plea information was not available in the records and an attorney listed for him did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.