Pediatrician charged with murdering her daughter in staged drowning

In El Portal, a village located just north of Miami, authorities are investigating the drowning of a four-year-old girl named Aria Talathi, who died on June 27, 2025. Her mother, Dr. Neha Gupta, a pediatrician from Oklahoma City, has been charged with first-degree murder linked to her daughter's tragic death. Gupta reported the incident to 911 at approximately 3:40 a.m., claiming that she found her daughter submerged in a pool while they were vacationing at a short-term rental. Initial responses from emergency services were swift, but sadly, the young girl was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. As the investigation unfolded, the scenario surrounding Talathi’s death transformed from a presumed accident into an alleged murder case. An autopsy revealed that no water was present in the child's lungs or stomach, which contradicted the mother's claims of drowning. Instead, evidence suggested possible asphyxiation, with injuries found in her mouth and cheeks, leading medical examiners to conclude that Talathi was likely deceased before being placed in the pool. This finding raised serious questions about Gupta's account of the events and led to her arrest following a thorough homicide investigation spanning several weeks. Gupta claimed that both she and her daughter went to bed in the master bedroom around 12:30 a.m., and she woke up around 3:20 a.m. to noises in the house. When she noticed her daughter missing, Gupta said she struggled to reach the child for ten minutes before finally calling for help. The narrative presented by Gupta at the time presented a tragic situation, yet the inconsistencies in her story are central to the ongoing investigation. Neighbors expressed shock and grief over the incident, questioning how the little girl could have been outside so early in the morning without supervision. As authorities continue to gather information and further evidence, Gupta remains in custody, awaiting extradition to Miami-Dade County, where she faces serious charges. Her defense attorneys have commented on the situation, expressing disappointment with the sheriff's office's decision and asserting their belief that the truth will come out once a thorough investigation is completed. The case has garnered considerable media attention, highlighting issues of child safety and the unexpected complexities surrounding family vacations in unfamiliar surroundings.