Oklahoma Pediatrician Accused of Killing 4-Year-Old Daughter, Staging Death as Pool Drowning in Florida

FLORIDA – A pediatrician from Oklahoma is facing a first-degree murder charge after authorities say she killed her 4-year-old daughter while on vacation in Miami and staged the death to appear as a poolside drowning.

Neha Gupta, 36, was arrested Wednesday in Oklahoma City after Miami-Dade detectives secured a warrant, alleging that Gupta smothered her daughter and later placed the child’s body in a pool to mislead investigators. The girl, identified as Aria Talathi, was pronounced dead at Jackson Memorial Hospital shortly after Gupta called 911 around 3:30 a.m. on June 27.

Authorities Say Autopsy Results Contradict Drowning Claim

Gupta initially told police she had gone to sleep with her daughter after dinner and woke up to a noise in the backyard, only to find Aria unresponsive in the pool. She claimed she couldn’t swim and tried to rescue her for 10 minutes before calling for help.

However, an autopsy reportedly showed no water in the girl’s lungs or stomach, contradicting a drowning death. Instead, medical examiners found injuries in the mouth and cheek area, consistent with asphyxiation by smothering.

Detectives also cited surveillance footage, inconsistencies in Gupta’s statement, and the child’s empty stomach, which clashed with Gupta’s claim that they had dinner around 9 p.m.

Arrest and Background

Miami-Dade police, in coordination with the Oklahoma City Police Department and U.S. Marshals, tracked Gupta down in Oklahoma, where she was arrested and is now awaiting extradition to Florida.

Gupta was employed as a licensed pediatrician at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital until she was fired on May 30, according to a statement from OU Health and the University of Oklahoma.

Her attorney, Richard Cooper, criticized the arrest, saying authorities “succumbed to pressure” and rushed to judgment. “As a result, a grieving mother who just lost her daughter is in jail,” he told Local 10. “We look forward to a full investigation which will uncover the truth.”

Custody Battle and Legal Struggles Revealed

The Miami Herald reported that Gupta and her ex-husband, Dr. Saurabh Talathi, were locked in a bitter custody battle since 2022. Their divorce was finalized in 2024, but a judge denied Gupta sole custody of Aria.

Court documents described the case as “highly contentious,” involving “aggressive tactics” and “protracted proceedings.” Gupta had also filed for a protective order against Talathi, alleging domestic abuse, but the order was later dismissed due to lack of evidence.

Just before the incident, a judge ordered Gupta to pay $79,000 in legal fees to her ex-husband’s attorneys — with proceedings underway to garnish her wages or assets.

What are your thoughts on the tragic circumstances of this case? Do contentious custody battles play a role in family tragedies? Share your opinion at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.