An Oklahoma pediatrician is facing accusations of murdering her 4-year-old daughter during a vacation in Florida, allegedly staging it as an accidental drowning.
Neha Gupta, 36, was reportedly in El Portal, Miami, enjoying a trip with her daughter, Aria Talathi. Reports indicate that when authorities arrived, they found the little girl unresponsive in the pool. Emergency responders attempted CPR on the scene and later rushed her to the Rider Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she was declared dead about an hour after arrival.
Gupta explained to investigators that they had spent the day at the beach, rode jet skis, and shared a meal around 9 PM before settling down in the master bedroom around 12:30 AM. She claimed that a noise woke her around 3:20 AM, and she discovered her daughter in the pool—stating she couldn’t swim but attempted a rescue for about ten minutes before calling 911.
Initially, this incident seemed like a tragic accident. However, a deeper investigation revealed unsettling details. An autopsy showed no water in Aria’s lungs or stomach, yet experts identified injuries around her mouth and cheeks, suggesting she may have suffocated, contradicting Gupta’s account.
Prosecutors believe the child was likely harmed before being placed in the pool, raising doubts about Gupta’s narrative, especially the timing of her dinner. Police gathered supporting evidence, including surveillance footage and other findings, which led to the issuance of an arrest warrant. Yet, by that time, Gupta had already returned to her hometown.
Miami-Dade police tracked her down in Oklahoma City with assistance from local law enforcement and arrested her. She is now awaiting extradition back to Miami-Dade County to face first-degree murder charges.
Her attorney expressed disappointment over what he described as rushed actions by the police, asserting that a grieving mother is now facing jail time while seeking clarity on the events that unfolded.
Before her arrest, investigators uncovered that Gupta was involved in a contentious custody battle with her ex-husband, Dr. Saurab Tarati. He revealed he had no knowledge of Gupta taking their daughter out of state. Legal documents indicated a two-year struggle marked by aggressive tactics and ongoing disputes.
Though their divorce was finalized in 2024, Gupta lost a bid for sole custody, and a protective order she secured against Tarati was dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Furthermore, she was mandated to pay his legal bills, which totaled $79,000, with efforts underway to access her earnings or property.
During this tumultuous time, Gupta lost her position as a pediatrician at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital and had not been attending to patients since the end of May 2025.
