A 36-year-old pediatrician has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder after authorities allege she killed her four-year-old daughter and attempted to stage the death as an accidental drowning during a contentious custody dispute.
Dr. Neha Gupta, from Oklahoma, is accused of smothering her daughter, Aria Talathi, and placing her in a backyard pool to make it look like a drowning accident. The disturbing incident unfolded during a trip to Florida in late June.
Tragic Discovery
Emergency responders were called to an Airbnb in El Portal, Florida, a suburb of Miami, around 3:30 a.m. on June 27. Gupta had reported finding Aria unresponsive in the pool.
Despite efforts to revive her, Aria was pronounced dead less than an hour later.
Gupta told investigators she had fallen asleep with her daughter and woke to find her missing. She said she found Aria in the deep end of the pool and tried to rescue her for 10 minutes but was unable to do so because she couldn’t swim.
Autopsy Reveals Shocking Details
However, an autopsy conducted on June 29 contradicted Gupta’s version of events.
According to the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office, Aria showed no signs of drowning. Instead, they found:
- No water in her lungs or stomach
- Bruising and cuts inside her mouth and on her cheeks
- Injuries consistent with smothering, not an accidental fall
The girl’s stomach was also empty, casting doubt on Gupta’s claim that she had eaten dinner around 9 p.m. the night before.
These findings led police to arrest Gupta on July 1 after she had returned to Oklahoma.
Custody Battle at the Center
According to court documents, Gupta and her ex-husband, Dr. Saurabh Talathi, had been involved in a bitter custody dispute since their divorce proceedings began in 2022, finalized in 2024.
Gupta had been ordered to pay Talathi over $79,000 in attorney fees earlier this year. The police affidavit revealed Talathi was unaware Gupta had taken their daughter out of Oklahoma.
He also previously requested psychiatric evaluations for Gupta during the custody case, though it’s unclear whether that evaluation was ever completed.
Timeline of Events
- June 25: Gupta travels from Oklahoma to Florida with Aria.
- June 26: She claims they spent the day jet skiing before returning to the rental.
- June 27
- 12:30 a.m.: Gupta says she and Aria went to bed.
- 3:20 a.m.: She wakes and finds Aria missing.
- 3:30 a.m.: She calls 911 reporting a drowning.
- 4:28 a.m.: Aria is pronounced dead at the hospital.
- June 29: Autopsy concludes cause of death was smothering.
- July 1: Gupta is arrested in Oklahoma.
Defense Pushes Back
Gupta’s attorney, Richard L. Cooper, has criticized the police for what he called a rushed investigation.
“They hastily arrested a grieving mother who fully cooperated with the police and is devastated by the loss of her child,” Cooper told NBC News.
Gupta’s former divorce lawyer, Chris Smith, also defended her character.
“She is a caring and attentive mother. The idea that she could have harmed her child is completely inconsistent with her life and who she is,” Smith told the Miami Herald.
Professional Fallout
Following her arrest, the University of Oklahoma and OU Health released a joint statement confirming Gupta had been:
- Suspended from patient care
- Given notice of termination
- Removed from her medical duties as of May 30, 2025
It’s unclear whether the suspension was related to the ongoing custody issues or other concerns.
What’s Next
Dr. Neha Gupta remains in custody in Oklahoma City as she awaits extradition to Florida, where she will face formal murder charges in Miami-Dade County.
Police have not commented further on a potential motive, but the case has sent shockwaves through both the medical and parenting communities.
As the investigation continues, family, friends, and the public await more clarity—and justice—for little Aria Talathi.
