News: 0180661574

  ARM Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life (Terry Pratchett, Jingo)

California Tech CEO and EV Pioneer Arrested, Accused of Murder (sfgate.com)

(Monday January 26, 2026 @10:30PM (BeauHD) from the redrum dept.)


California tech executive Gordon Abas Goodarzi has been [1]arrested and charged with murder in the death of his estranged wife, Aryan Papoli, whose body was found last November down an embankment off Highway 138 in San Bernardino County. Authorities initially believed the injuries were consistent with a fall, but the case was [2]later ruled a homicide following a months-long investigation by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. "Arrest records show that Goodarzi is currently in custody without bail and faces a murder charge and that he is set to appear in court Monday," reports SFGATE. From the report:

> Goodarzi, a California tech executive with [3]ties to BattleBots, is publicly listed as the president and CEO of Magmotor, which describes itself as a " [4]proud " supporter of the combat robot community and claims to support several teams each year. According to [5]his LinkedIn , Goodarzi also previously worked as a research affiliate [6]at UCLA 's B. John Garrick Institute for the Risk Sciences since 2023.

>

> Originally from Iran, Papoli and Goodarzi settled in Los Angeles County's verdant Rolling Hills community because of its tranquility and natural beauty, Papoli previously [7]wrote . [...] She described her husband, Goodarzi, as a pioneer in the world of renewable energy, developing both electric and hybrid vehicles since the 1980s. According to Papoli, he also worked as the technical director at Hughes Electronics, which developed and manufactured the EV1, an early iteration of the electric car, in the 1990s.



[1] https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/california-tech-murder-arrest-21316366.php

[2] https://nixle.us/GZY93

[3] https://www.newspapers.com/image/1157778152/?match=1&terms=%22magmotor%22

[4] https://www.magmotor.com/combat-sponsorship-policy

[5] https://www.linkedin.com/in/goodarzi-817b22153/

[6] https://www.risksciences.ucla.edu/people-research-affiliates/gordonabas-goodarzi

[7] https://www.strollmag.com/locations/rolling-hills-ca/articles/-7f2e80/



Hans Reiser, anyone? (Score:2)

by PCM2 ( 4486 )

Check his nightstand for books on how to kill your wife.

Re: (Score:2)

by ffkom ( 3519199 )

I was just wondering whether he will end up as a cell-mate to Hans Reiser. Unluckily, the news article has very little information on what the motivation for the murder might have been.

Thought of that too (Score:2)

by abulafia ( 7826 )

I just peeked at his [1]most recent contribution [kernel.org] to LKML.

And more recently on Rich Nerds Behaving Badly , [2]Nima Momeni [abc7news.com] chimed in.

[1] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/b98b29cf-27d9-49e0-b10b-1848399badfd@kittens.ph/T/#u

[2] https://abc7news.com/post/bob-lee-murder-trial-verdict-jury-delivers-decision-suspect-nima-momeni-stabbing-death-cash-app-founder/15667413/

He's from Iran (Score:2, Flamebait)

by Valgrus Thunderaxe ( 8769977 )

You don't get a divorce there. You throw your wife into the oven and claim it was a dreadful accident.

Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

by 93 Escort Wagon ( 326346 )

In Iran, I don't think you need to hide the fact that you've murdered your wife - just claim she didn't defer to you enough, or she talked to a man who wasn't a family member.

You know, like on the Project 2025 "extras" wishlist.

Re: (Score:3)

by quenda ( 644621 )

I don’t care where you are from. Iran, France, it doesn’t bother me. I’m very modern.

So many mistakes for one investigation (Score:3)

by dgatwood ( 11270 )

They originally thought she was 25 to 35, and she's 58. They originally thought it was an accident, and now think it is murder... by a guy who is basically a retiree.

Murder for hire, I could maybe believe, but in the absence of a lot more detail, this is kind of stretching credibility here.

Re: (Score:2)

by Truth_Quark ( 219407 )

> They originally thought she was 25 to 35, and she's 58.

It can be hard to tell if you've got the resources for a bit of good cosmetic surgery.

> They originally thought it was an accident, and now think it is murder... by a guy who is basically a retiree.

Yeah, that is strange. Given that [1]there's no love lost between Rivian and Telsa [proskauer.com], I think we should consider the possibility that Musk paid someone to kill his wife and set him up.

[1] https://www.proskauer.com/blog/ev-trade-secrets-litigation-series-tesla-and-rivian-resolve-high-stakes-legal-clash-over-ip

Re: (Score:2)

by Geoffrey.landis ( 926948 )

> Yeah, that is strange. Given that [1]there's no love lost between Rivian and Telsa [proskauer.com], I think we should consider the possibility that Musk paid someone to kill his wife and set him up.

Not sure what Rivian has to do with it? The article says he was involved with electronics for EV-1, not Rivian. That's an electric car that was abandoned 27 years ago, and never was a rival to Tesla.

[1] https://www.proskauer.com/blog/ev-trade-secrets-litigation-series-tesla-and-rivian-resolve-high-stakes-legal-clash-over-ip

Re: (Score:1)

by Anonymous Coward

It's far easier to grab the low hanging fruit than do an actual investigation. Promotions for everyone!

Oh great, now I find this out? (Score:3)

by backslashdot ( 95548 )

I only just installed a great journaling file system on my EV1's infotainment system to make it snappy and was all set to drive it around proudly.

HOORAY, Ronald!! Now YOU can marry LINDA RONSTADT too!!