NBC’s DATELINE: THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL unfolds like a chilling thriller, one that blurs the lines between betrayal and survival. At the center of this harrowing story is a man named Hamed Ghassemi, who found himself pulled into a tragedy too dark to imagine—a son left behind by a murdered mother and a father found guilty of orchestrating the crime. The episode doesn’t just revisit the gruesome case of Tahereh Ghassemi’s murder but explores the emotional ruins it left behind, particularly for her only son, Hamed.
To understand where Hamed Ghassemi is today, we must return to the tangled history that led to his mother’s brutal end—and to a betrayal that nearly claimed his own life.
THE AMERICAN DREAM THAT TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE
Hamid Ghassemi, Hamed’s father, immigrated to Baton Rouge, Louisiana from Iran in the 1980s. Ambitious and determined, Hamid started from the ground up. He opened a small pizza place called Rainbow Pizza. With growing financial success, he transitioned into selling cars and launched a dealership known as Import One.
Back in Iran, his wife Tahereh remained, raising their son Hamed. It wasn’t until 2005, after a decade of separation, that Hamed, now an adult, was able to bring his mother to the United States.
The reunion, however, was not what Tahereh had dreamed of. She discovered that Hamid had secretly married an American woman—twice, in fact. The betrayal shattered Tahereh. The couple’s relationship collapsed, leading to a bitter divorce battle that lasted almost eight years. Just three months before she vanished, a court ordered Hamid to pay Tahereh over $1 million and hand over two homes.
That ruling, prosecutors say, became the motive for murder.
A MOTHER’S LOVE, A SON’S STRUGGLE
When Tahereh moved to Baton Rouge, she didn’t just start over—she flourished. She learned English, became a manager at Walmart, and dedicated herself to caring for Hamed, her only child. They lived together in a quiet neighborhood, where she cooked his meals and kept the home in order. But what seemed like a warm maternal relationship became strained over time.
Hamed, then in his 30s, felt overwhelmed. In his own words, he felt smothered, like his life was being controlled. The tension escalated. On April 10, 2015, he sent his mother a furious text message in Farsi, threatening to move out.
The next night, he skipped dinner and went out with friends. When he returned, the stove was still on, rice cooking, but his mother—and her car—were gone. He assumed she was simply angry and staying with a friend. But as the hours turned into days, the alarm grew.
Tahereh hadn’t been seen, and her purse was still at home. After receiving conflicting information from her coworkers, Hamed drove to Walmart and confirmed that she had not shown up for work. That’s when he called the police.
AN INVESTIGATION THAT UNCOVERED A DEVASTATING PLOT
Police initially looked into Hamed, noting the ongoing tension between him and his mother. But another lead soon emerged. Surveillance footage captured a Chevrolet Tahoe in the area around Tahereh’s home the night she disappeared. Employees from Hamid’s dealership identified the car as one from their lot.
Investigators soon turned their attention to Hamid’s phone records. A 17-second call to an unknown number the night of the murder led police to a 20-year-old named Tyler Ashpaugh. Digital tracking placed Ashpaugh in a remote forested area in St. Helena Parish shortly after Tahereh’s disappearance.
What police found there confirmed their worst fears: a shallow grave, wrapped in Hamed’s missing comforter, holding Tahereh’s body.
THE UNSPEAKABLE BETRAYAL: A HIT ORDERED BY A FATHER
Under pressure, Ashpaugh cracked. He admitted to the murder, claiming he and Skyler Williams had been hired by Daniel Richter, a mechanic from Hamid’s dealership. They had planned to kill Tahereh with an insulin injection. When that failed, Ashpaugh shot her in the head.
They received $10,000 for the job. But there was another shocking detail: Hamed was also a target.
If he had been home that night—if he hadn’t gone out for sushi and drinks—he likely would have been killed too.
The man behind it all? His own father.
TRIALS, SENTENCES, AND CONSEQUENCES
All four men—Ashpaugh, Williams, Richter, and Hamid—were arrested. Ashpaugh later died in jail of a fentanyl overdose, but not before exposing the full extent of the conspiracy. Richter turned state’s witness, securing a 30-year sentence in exchange for testimony. Williams also pled guilty to manslaughter and received 30 years. Hamid Ghassemi, now 72, was tried and found guilty of first-degree murder in 2023. He received a life sentence.
AFTERMATH: A SON’S NEW BEGINNING
Her mother remains were eventually found in a wooded area in St. Helena Parish. After the recovery, Hamed traveled back to Iran in 2015 to bury his mother. While there, he was reportedly arrested for converting to Christianity but was released in June 2016 and returned to the U.S.—only to find that his father had planned to have him killed as well.
During his time in Baton Rouge, Hamed attended Louisiana State University (LSU), where he pursued a college degree. After completing his education, Hamed worked as the Sales, Finance, and Operations Manager at Import One, honing his skills in the business world. He later moved on to become the General Manager at BR Autoplex from 2008 to 2011, further building on the knowledge he gained through his education and practical experience.
If Hamed had been home that night, he may have shared his mother’s fate. Since then, Hamed has been attempting to rebuild his life. However, he had a legal brush in March 2018 when he was stopped for speeding on I-10 near Port Allen. Officers discovered marijuana, cocaine, a firearm and drug paraphernalia in his vehicle. He was arrested for drug and gun possession but was later released after posting bail.
WHERE IS HAMID GHASSEMI NOW?
Professionally, Hamed has continued in the automobile industry. A Louisiana State University graduate, he began his career under his father at Import One, where he handled sales, finance, and operations until 2006. He then took up a leadership role at BR Autoplex from 2008 to 2011. As of now, he is reportedly the owner of a car dealership in Baton Rouge, distancing his business ethics from his father’s past. “My way of doing business and his way are completely different,” he stated.
On a personal level, Hamed has found companionship and joy. He rekindled a relationship with Behnoosh—nicknamed Behi—a woman he knew from his childhood. The couple married on April 2, 2022, in a warm ceremony surrounded by friends and family. They now live in Baton Rouge with their dog, Barfi, whom they treat as their own child.
The couple enjoys celebrating holidays such as Halloween and Christmas and often travels together, embracing nature and adventure. In March 2025, they vacationed with friends at Clark Creek Natural Area in Woodville, Mississippi. According to those close to them, the couple is planning to expand their family soon.
Hamed Ghassemi’s life has been marked by trauma and transformation. From heartbreak and betrayal to new beginnings, he continues to push forward, surrounded by love and resilience.
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