5 - Something Hinky
Summary
This episode of Motive for Murder investigates the killings of Gellere Bagherzade and Cody Beavers, focusing on suspect Ali Ersan. While investigators initially explored political motives, they uncovered extensive fraud by Ersan, leading to his federal conviction. Crucially, dashcam footage places Ersan near Gellere’s murder scene, and a heated phone call between them suggests a personal motive for her death.
Topics discussed
Sponsors and podcast introduction
Gellerie Bagherzadeh's life and activism
Investigating potential Iranian government links
Shifting focus to Ali Ersan and family motives
Obtaining a search warrant via protective order violation
Search of Ersan's compound and property
Interview with Ali Ersan and his evasive responses
Discovery of extensive government fraud schemes
FBI task force and fraud charges against the family
Ersan's guilty plea and prison sentence for fraud
Sponsors: Rexulti, Saatchi Art, and Zazzle
The challenge of proving murder without physical evidence
Dash cam video places Ersan near crime scene
The phone call between Gellerie and Ali Ersan
Murder charges filed and preview of next episode
Listen ad-free on Castria