Hailey
An Oklahoma-based pediatrician, Dr. Neha Gupta, has been charged with first-degree murder following the death of her 4-year-old daughter, Aria Talathi, in South Florida.
Authorities allege the incident was a staged drowning and revealed evidence suggesting smothering as the actual cause of death.
Incident Details in El Portal, Florida
The tragic event unfolded in the early hours of June 27, 2025, at a short-term rental home in El Portal, a suburb of Miami.
According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO), Gupta and her daughter were visiting from Oklahoma City.
At 3:41 a.m., local police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to a report of a child found unresponsive in a backyard pool.
Dr. Gupta led officers to the pool’s deep end, where Aria was found submerged.
Rescue personnel began CPR immediately and transported the child to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, but she was pronounced dead at 4:28 a.m.
Initial Statements and Timeline
Gupta initially told detectives the drowning was accidental. She claimed that after spending the day at the beach and jet skiing, she and Aria returned to the rental between 7 and 8 p.m.
Aria, she said, fell asleep but was later woken for dinner around 9 p.m., and they both went to bed around 12:30 a.m.
At approximately 3:20 a.m., Gupta said she awoke to a strange sound, discovered Aria was missing, and saw her floating in the pool. She told officers she couldn’t swim and struggled for 10 minutes before calling 911.
Autopsy and Contradictions
On June 29, an autopsy conducted by the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office contradicted Gupta’s version of events. Key findings included:
- No water found in Aria’s lungs or stomach, ruling out drowning
- Bruising and lacerations in the child’s mouth and cheeks, not consistent with CPR
- An empty stomach, contradicting Gupta’s claim that Aria had eaten dinner at 9 p.m.
The injuries were deemed consistent with smothering, and authorities believe Aria was already deceased before being placed in the pool.
Ongoing Custody Battle and Legal Context
Investigators also discovered that Gupta and her ex-husband, Dr. Saurabh Talathi, shared custody of Aria. He informed detectives that he had no knowledge that Gupta had taken their daughter out of Oklahoma.
Gupta voluntarily appeared at the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office on June 27, accompanied by legal counsel, and gave a recorded statement.
However, investigators noted that surveillance footage, the autopsy, and inconsistencies in Gupta’s account strongly pointed toward a premeditated act disguised as an accidental drowning.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
An arrest warrant was issued after the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office reviewed the evidence.
Authorities, with support from the Oklahoma City Police Department Homicide Unit and the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested Gupta in Oklahoma City.
She now awaits extradition to Florida and is being held without bond.
Defense and Employment Status
Richard Cooper, Gupta’s attorney, criticized the swift arrest, stating:
“We are disappointed that the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office succumbed to pressure and rushed to judgment… We look forward to a full investigation which will uncover the truth.”
Following her arrest, OU Health and the University of Oklahoma confirmed that Gupta had been suspended from patient care and given notice of termination as of May 30, 2025.
The death of young Aria Talathi has shaken both the Oklahoma and Florida communities. As the investigation proceeds, questions around motive, custody, and mental health will likely shape the legal journey ahead.
While Dr. Neha Gupta maintains her innocence through legal counsel, the disturbing evidence gathered by Miami-Dade authorities paints a grim picture of staged deception and tragic loss.