Two Charged with First-Degree Murder in Masood Masjoody Killing

Two individuals have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Masood Masjoody, a 45-year-old Burnaby, British Columbia man whose remains were discovered in Mission, B.C., earlier this month. Mehdi Ahmadzadeh Razavi, 48, of Maple Ridge, and Arezou Soltani, 45, of North Vancouver, were arrested on Friday and face one count each of first-degree murder, according to the RCMP’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT).

Disappearance and Investigation

Masjoody was initially reported missing on February 2nd after neighbours expressed concerns about his unexplained absence. The Burnaby RCMP’s initial investigation determined his disappearance was unusual and potentially criminal in nature, leading to IHIT taking over the case.

Discovery of Remains and Targeted Killing

Following extensive search efforts, Masjoody’s remains were found on March 6th in Mission, B.C. During a press conference on Saturday, IHIT spokesperson Sergeant Freda Fong stated that investigators believe the killing was targeted.

“Although the motive is still under investigation, we can say the victim and the two accused were known to each other and that this was a targeted incident,” Fong said. Investigators have revealed that public records indicate ongoing civil disputes and social media exchanges between the accused and the victim, though the extent of their role in the killing remains unclear.

Victim’s Background

Masood Masjoody was identified as a former math professor at Simon Fraser University (SFU) and an Iranian national known for his criticism of the Tehran regime.

Accused and Ongoing Investigation

Police have stated that neither Ahmadzadeh Razavi nor Soltani have a prior criminal record in Canada and have had limited previous contact with law enforcement. Both remain in custody and are scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

The IHIT acknowledges the significant impact this case has had on the Iranian community and expresses gratitude to the public for their cooperation in providing information. The investigation is ongoing.