Mehrdad New York

Mehrdad New York (born Jafar Aghashariati; September 24, 1947 – December 30, 2023) was an Iranian-American singer who was murdered in Iran in 2023. His murder, which resulted from an elaborate plot to seize his billion-dollar property holdings, received widespread media attention and public interest.

Life and career Mehrdad New York gained recognition in the 2000s with songs including "Miyoun In Hame Khoshgel Kio Entekhab Konam" (Who Should I Choose Among All These Beautiful People). The song became popular among music fans for its humorous tone and catchy rhythm.

Beyond his music career, he owned significant real estate holdings in Iran, estimated to be worth over 4 trillion tomans (approximately $80 million USD at the time). In his final years, Mehrdad decided to travel to Iran to manage his assets. Due to his desire to have a large family and transfer his wealth to his children, he utilized surrogacy arrangements. He contracted with three Iranian women to carry his children, a decision that made him a controversial figure in the community. They hired two hitmen, one of whom was Mehrdad's advertising manager. The perpetrators first kidnapped him using anesthetic drugs at his villa in northern Iran and transferred him to Tehran. He was held captive for 10 days and tortured until he transferred his property deeds to the notary. After securing the assets, the perpetrators murdered him, dismembered his body, and burned it in the desert areas around Damavand.

Police tracked phone calls and financial transactions between the notary and caretaker, leading to the identification and arrest of all suspects. The hired killers confessed to burning the body and disposing of orthopedic plates with serial numbers that had been implanted during Mehrdad's accident in America to prevent identification.