Gelareh Bagherzadeh Murder: Crime Stoppers Offers Its Largest Reward Ever In Houston Case

Gelareh Bagherzadeh

Four months ago, an Iranian-born medical researcher was gunned down in her car just a few steps from her family’s home in Texas. The murder remains unsolved and the motive is still a mystery.

Hoping to bring the investigation to a successful conclusion, the Crime Stoppers chapter of Houston announced the largest cash reward for any case in the organization's history, offering $200,000 for "information that leads to an arrest or the filing of felony charges" in the alleged murder of Gelareh Bagherzadeh, according to a statement released Tuesday.

"The Houston Police Department is still actively and aggressively pursuing this investigation," said JC Padilla of the department's homicide division. "We hope that this significant amount will help us get the general public's support."

The 30-year-old Bagherzadeh, who also volunteered her time as a human-rights activist, died on Jan. 15.

According to an Associated Press report published five days later, "The fatal shooting remains surrounded by mystery in part because nothing was taken from the vehicle, though authorities haven't ruled out the possibility it could have been a botched robbery. They also haven't found any evidence suggesting she was targeted for her nationality or activism."

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 713-­222-­8477 or submit a tip online at www.crimestoppers.org. Tips can also be sent in a text message by sending TIP610 plus the information to to CRIMES (274637).

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Comments

[Bahar Steenhuis]

03:49 PM on 05/27/2012

It is obvious to me that she was assissinated by an agent hired by Iranian government. They are the main suspect becasue they hate women who defend their basic rights. This has been the strategy of Iranian government to shot off women since the Iranian Revolution of 1979.

[dbrett480]

07:25 PM on 05/23/2012

There are a lot of comments suggesting a political connection. This is most likely not the case.

[Bahar Steenhuis]

03:45 AM on 06/15/2012

Why this is not the case? Is it becasue there is no evidence? As an Iranian, I know how Iranian govenment operates and I strongly believe that her murder had political connection. As you can see many people think exactly the same as I do.

[htownrez]

09:14 PM on 05/19/2012

I'm quite astounded that no one has yet commented on the theory (whether in agreement or not) that Gelareh was assassinated by pro-Ahmedinejad regime types. I don't claim to know whether it was some nut who moved from Iran years ago or if it was executed by someone with actual ties to the Iranian government, but it seems pretty clear that she was targeted. And the $200,000 award also suggests that law enforcement thinks this was not an ordinary robbery gone wrong.

First, let's put to bed the ridiculuous notion that Gelareh was merely a "liberal political activist". She was not advocating for the environment, immigration rights, or equality for GLTBs. She didn't have a collection of grievances or ally herself with other progressive groups. Videos of her protesting clearly show her advocating for greater freedoms in Iran.

Second, she was shot WHILE she was driving her car. Some of you might be a better shot than I am, but I think it's pretty difficult for an amateur thief to succesfully pull this off. Also, the street where she was shot is not a particularly dangerous place; in fact, it's in between the Galleria mall area and some of the most expensive neighborhoods in Houston (Bush 41's residence was 1.0 miles to the northeast).

[Ciynthia Rea]

11:15 AM on 05/20/2012

This was the first thing that came to my mind while reading this article. I was going to comment on it but you took the words out of my mouth. I am very surprised that the police are not looking into this. They maybe just being quiet on the matter. I would hope soor this crime may never be solved, or there will be another one to come

[psridgell]

01:48 PM on 05/19/2012

Woemjn shouldn't travel out of the house without wearing a burqa and escorted by a male relative....

[WhatchaTalkinBoutWillis]

08:41 PM on 05/17/2012

HP, stop holding my comment hostageeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

[Maxedaddy]

03:33 PM on 05/17/2012

You better start looking at the Republican Party. Those guys have recently reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act, rolling back protection for foreign/immigrant women. I saw on Rachel Maddow yesterday that a supporter of this bill has actually done time for abusing women and one of the authors of this re authorization is actually running a mail order Russian bride website. No lie, look it up.

[oceanview136]

07:15 PM on 05/17/2012

OH puleeeeze ! A woman disappears, and you bring Politics into the discussion ?? I am pretty sure that neither the Republican, or the Democratic party had anything to do with this woman's disappearance !!

[Maxedaddy]

07:45 PM on 05/17/2012

Hmmm? Let me see, who is the party that fights against people's rights and who is the party that fights for people's rights? Hmmm, this is human rights activist. Not just a random person. This is related to human rights issues, that's political.

[RU Mad Again]

08:37 AM on 05/18/2012

"It's wonderful having a liberal mind!"

Where delusion is a perpetual state of being.

[westcoastsc]

03:21 PM on 05/17/2012

Texas, Georgia, and Florida are probably the least safe places to be if you are a liberal political activist.

Here are three stories from Texas.
http://www.tomflocco.com/fs/UsAttDeathsFirings.htm
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/11/20/dick_cheney_and_alberto_gonzales_indicted
http://www.opednews.com/thoreau1103bush_rape_suicide.htm

[JackVandusen]

02:54 PM on 05/17/2012

Could it have been someone angry about her human rights work?
In human rights work, the ones denying the rights usually hate the ones demanding them, and they usually have a range of violent resources.
I'd look to see which human rights denier benefits from her death.

[DKC123]

01:49 PM on 05/17/2012

No matter how much money is offered, if she was killed because of her human rights work, it's going to be tough to get people to come forward out of fear they could easily be next. If it was a simple robbery or car jacking the reward should help, but if it's something far more complex, it likely won't do any good.

[westcoastsc]

03:27 PM on 05/17/2012

We can't have that defeatist attitude or these people will go on to commit more crimes maybe of someone you know. If we went back to other cases that are questionable and solved those, then we will probably get the people behind this. We have to be prepared for where this goes. Look at my other post that I hope they post.

[FreeSwingingSoul]

01:27 PM on 05/17/2012

"The fatal shooting remains surrounded by mystery in part because nothing was taken from the vehicle, though authorities haven't ruled out the possibility it could have been a botched robbery. They also haven't found any evidence suggesting she was targeted for her nationality or activism."

Then it sounds to me like it was a lover/former-lover. Surely that potential angle to the crime didn't elude the authorities.

[Holly H]

01:05 PM on 05/17/2012

I bet this is akin to the woman that was beaten and a fake note was left saying go back to your country.

[cajnjewel]

12:44 PM on 05/17/2012

Although the police believe it wasn't racially motivated, I beg to differ. Since they have no evidence of robbery, carjacking, etc, what else could it be?

[stellablu]

11:30 AM on 05/17/2012

I think she angered the Iranian men with her human rights for woman issues! Sorry to see her go!

[riggallamarillo]

10:00 AM on 05/17/2012

I would more readily think it was a car jacking gone wrong.

[lithium12]

12:32 PM on 05/17/2012

at that is what the killers may very well want you to think.

[snowdrift]

09:22 AM on 05/17/2012

Hopefully, the killer's "friends" will choose the money over their loyalty to the killer.

[Michele Bennington]

11:20 PM on 05/17/2012

That probably won't happen unless it was a carjacking/robbery gone wrong. If it was related to her human rights work, which very possibly could be connected to the Iranian gov't., there won't be any takers for the reward.

Human rights workers walk a very fine line when it comes to their own safety. It's dangerous work.