Latest news with #NehaGupta
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Pediatrician accused of killing daughter, 4, then staging it to look like drowning has charges DOWNGRADED
A pediatrician who was previously accused of murdering her four-year-old daughter has had her charges downgraded to aggravated manslaughter of a child. Dr. Neha Gupta, 36, was accused of murdering her toddler, Aria Talathi, while the two were vacationing in El Portal, Florida, on June 27. Aria was found unresponsive in the backyard pool just after 3:30 am by the El Portal Police Department after a 911 call reported a child drowning. Paramedics with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue performed CPR at the scene, and the child was rushed to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Doctors discovered that Aria had cuts and bruises inside her mouth and didn't have water in her lungs. Her death was consistent with smothering, not drowning, contrary to what her mother had reported to authorities. A medical examiner in Miami ruled out drowning as a cause of death and suggested that Aria died of asphyxiation. Gupta was accused of smothering her daughter to death and staging the drowning. Police initially recommended a charge of murder in the first degree. The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office took over the case and arrested Gupta at her home in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with assistance from the Oklahoma City Police Department's Homicide Unit and the United States Marshals Service, a press release announced at the time. Body camera footage of Gupta's dramatic arrest revealed US Marshals banging on her door and busting it down when the pediatrician didn't respond. They searched her home and found her hiding in the corner of her laundry room in what appeared to be her pajamas. Gupta complied with the officers' commands and knelt on the floor with her hands behind her back. An incident report stated that authorities saw Gupta near the door of her home before she hid in the laundry room. Child's toys were seen scattered around the house in the footage of the arrest. Gupta told police that the night of her daughter's death started normally. They had dinner around 9 pm and went to sleep in the same bed around 12:30 am. She awoke a few hours later and saw her daughter submerged in the pool outside. Gupta said she tried to save Aria but didn't know how to swim. She added that she attempted to 'assist the deceased victim' for around 10 minutes before calling emergency services. Detectives previously said that there were holes in Gupta's testimony. Doctors said there was no food in Aria's stomach when she died, refuting her mother's claim that they had dinner together before bed. After Gupta's arrest, it was revealed that she had been suspended from her position at OU Health and the University of Oklahoma in May. Gupta was also in the midst of a custody battle with her ex-husband, Dr. Saurabh Talathi, following their divorce last year. Talathi, who also lives in Oklahoma, previously told local news that he wasn't aware that Gupta and their daughter were vacationing in Florida. Gupta was arrested on July 1 and booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center without bond. She was then extradited to Miami-Dade County, where she has been held without bond. Gupta didn't attend the recent hearing before Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Zachary James. Her attorneys have maintained that Aria's death was a tragic accident and that Gupta is a grieving mother. Gupta's lawyer, Michael Mirer, told reporters after Thursday's court hearing, 'Our position from day one has been that Dr. Gupta did not intentionally harm her child, that her child tragically got out of the locked door and fell into the pool accidentally, and this [is confirmed] by the state's filing,' the Miami Herald reported. Mirer said that Gupta's arrest paperwork is 'no longer valid,' adding, 'I think today was a vindication for Dr. Gupta, because the state has now decided not to charge her with murder'. Ed Griffith, a spokesperson for the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, said in a statement, 'Based on the evidence presently available to prosecutors, the [first] degree felony charge of aggravated manslaughter of a child has been deemed as the appropriate criminal charge'. Another hearing is scheduled for Monday to discuss Gupta's eligibility for bond. A trial hearing was tentatively set for November.
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Yahoo
Body cam video shows Oklahoma doctor being arrested in daughter's murder charge
In a quiet gated community in Oklahoma City, armed officers from the local police department and the U.S. Marshals crept toward the front door of a home. They were there to carry out the arrest of a Oklahoma pediatrician who authorities say murdered her 4-year-old daughter and tried to stage the death as a drowning while vacationing in South Florida. Newly released body camera footage from the Oklahoma City Police Department captures the moments when 36-year-old Neha Gupta was taken into custody at her four-bedroom, three-bathroom home on July 1. Just four days earlier, her daughter, Aria Talathi, had been found lifeless in a pool around 4 a.m. at their vacation rental home in El Portal. The footage shows officers cutting across a manicured lawn before approaching the front door. They bang loudly, announcing themselves: 'Police with a warrant, open the door! Do it now!' When no one answers, they force the door open. 'Neha Gupta, come to the front door now,' one officer shouts, adding the U.S. Marshals have a warrant for her arrest. There's no response. READ MORE: Doctor staged drowning to cover up daughter's murder during Miami vacation: MDSO As officers step inside, they move carefully with weapons drawn. Just inside the entryway, a stroller can be seen. To the left, a pink child's dollhouse sits by the wall—reminders of the child who had once lived there. Locked in room As they search the home, officers check cluttered closets and rooms scattered with children's toys. A small pink jacket hangs on a hook. Their search leads them to a shut laundry room door. They undo a child safety lock, open the door, and find Gupta standing in the dark, wearing what appears to be matching pajamas and white flip-flops. Officers order her to the ground. She kneels, placing her hands behind her back as they handcuff her. She is escorted through the garage, past stacks of cardboard boxes and a white Nissan parked inside. READ MORE: Pediatrician accused of staging child's death is back in Miami and behind bars Gupta spent the next 17 days in an Oklahoma City jail before being extradited to Miami-Dade County, where she has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter. She remains at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center after a judge denied her bond. 911 call to El Portal home In the predawn hours of June 27, officers from El Portal Police Department and paramedics from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue rushed to a 911 call reporting a child was found unresponsive in a swimming pool at a home at 156 NW 90th St. in El Portal. Gupta took the officers to the backyard, where her daughter Aria was found submerged in the deep end of the pool, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, which took over the investigation from El Portal Police. The doctor and her daughter had arrived in South Florida on June 25 and were renting the house as a short-term Airbnb rental. Gupta's attorney, Richard Cooper, previously told the Miami Herald that MDSO did not conduct a full investigation before Gupta's arrest. 'Dr. Gupta fully cooperated with law enforcement and gave multiple statements that never wavered in consistency,' Cooper said. 'Rather than conduct a thorough investigation, which could require multiple autopsies and toxicology analyses, the MDSO decided to apply for a warrant for a grieving mother going through the unimaginable. We look forward to all the facts coming to light.' No water in girl's lungs: autopsy A preliminary autopsy of Aria conducted by the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's office revealed no water in Aria's lungs or stomach, ruling out drowning. Instead, doctors found bruising inside the child's cheeks and cuts in her mouth — injuries inconsistent with any resuscitation attempts, Gupta's warrant read. The autopsy findings suggested Aria had died from asphyxiation by smothering before being placed in the pool. Gupta told authorities that the day before Aria died, she and her daughter had spent the day at the beach and riding personal watercraft before returning to their vacation home and eating dinner. After their meal, she said, they shared a bed and went to sleep. At around 3:20 a.m., Gupta said she was awakened by a noise and realized Aria was no longer in bed. She told investigators she found the sliding glass door open and discovered Aria submerged in the pool. Gupta said she couldn't swim but tried to rescue her for 10 minutes before calling 911. Gupta is set to be arraigned on Aug. 7, according to court records.
Miami Herald
24-07-2025
- Miami Herald
Body cam video shows Oklahoma doctor being arrested in daughter's murder charge
In a quiet gated community in Oklahoma City, armed officers from the local police department and the U.S. Marshals crept toward the front door of a home. They were there to carry out the arrest of a Oklahoma pediatrician who authorities say murdered her 4-year-old daughter and tried to stage the death as a drowning while vacationing in South Florida. Newly released body camera footage from the Oklahoma City Police Department captures the moments when 36-year-old Neha Gupta was taken into custody at her four-bedroom, three-bathroom home on July 1. Just four days earlier, her daughter, Aria Talathi, had been found lifeless in a pool around 4 a.m. at their vacation rental home in El Portal. The footage shows officers cutting across a manicured lawn before approaching the front door. They bang loudly, announcing themselves: 'Police with a warrant, open the door! Do it now!' When no one answers, they force the door open. 'Neha Gupta, come to the front door now,' one officer shouts, adding the U.S. Marshals have a warrant for her arrest. There's no response. READ MORE: Doctor staged drowning to cover up daughter's murder during Miami vacation: MDSO As officers step inside, they move carefully with weapons drawn. Just inside the entryway, a stroller can be seen. To the left, a pink child's dollhouse sits by the wall—reminders of the child who had once lived there. Locked in room As they search the home, officers check cluttered closets and rooms scattered with children's toys. A small pink jacket hangs on a hook. Their search leads them to a shut laundry room door. They undo a child safety lock, open the door, and find Gupta standing in the dark, wearing what appears to be matching pajamas and white flip-flops. Officers order her to the ground. She kneels, placing her hands behind her back as they handcuff her. She is escorted through the garage, past stacks of cardboard boxes and a white Nissan parked inside. READ MORE: Pediatrician accused of staging child's death is back in Miami and behind bars Gupta spent the next 17 days in an Oklahoma City jail before being extradited to Miami-Dade County, where she has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter. She remains at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center after a judge denied her bond. 911 call to El Portal home In the predawn hours of June 27, officers from El Portal Police Department and paramedics from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue rushed to a 911 call reporting a child was found unresponsive in a swimming pool at a home at 156 NW 90th St. in El Portal. Gupta took the officers to the backyard, where her daughter Aria was found submerged in the deep end of the pool, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, which took over the investigation from El Portal Police. The doctor and her daughter had arrived in South Florida on June 25 and were renting the house as a short-term Airbnb rental. Gupta's attorney, Richard Cooper, previously told the Miami Herald that MDSO did not conduct a full investigation before Gupta's arrest. 'Dr. Gupta fully cooperated with law enforcement and gave multiple statements that never wavered in consistency,' Cooper said. 'Rather than conduct a thorough investigation, which could require multiple autopsies and toxicology analyses, the MDSO decided to apply for a warrant for a grieving mother going through the unimaginable. We look forward to all the facts coming to light.' No water in girl's lungs: autopsy A preliminary autopsy of Aria conducted by the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's office revealed no water in Aria's lungs or stomach, ruling out drowning. Instead, doctors found bruising inside the child's cheeks and cuts in her mouth — injuries inconsistent with any resuscitation attempts, Gupta's warrant read. The autopsy findings suggested Aria had died from asphyxiation by smothering before being placed in the pool. Gupta told authorities that the day before Aria died, she and her daughter had spent the day at the beach and riding personal watercraft before returning to their vacation home and eating dinner. After their meal, she said, they shared a bed and went to sleep. At around 3:20 a.m., Gupta said she was awakened by a noise and realized Aria was no longer in bed. She told investigators she found the sliding glass door open and discovered Aria submerged in the pool. Gupta said she couldn't swim but tried to rescue her for 10 minutes before calling 911. Gupta is set to be arraigned on Aug. 7, according to court records.
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Time of India
'Neha Gupta, come to the front door': New bodycam video shows how Indian-origin doctor was hiding in laundry room after 'drowning' daughter
A new bodycam footage has been released showing the arrest of Indian-origin Oklahoma pediatrician Neha Gupta, accused of drowning her four-year-old daughter in Florida. She was arrested on July 1 and the footage shows how the Oklahoma City Police Department had to bust open the door as Dr Gupta remained hiding in a laundry room while her home was raided. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'Neha Gupta, come to the front door. Do it now,' a US Marshal shouted. 'US Marshals. We have a warrant for your arrest. Come to the front door. Do it now.' In the footage, Neha Gupta can be seen hiding in a dark corner behind the sliding door of the laundry room. She was placed on the ground and cuffed immediately. Gupta allegedly killed her four-year-old daughter Aria Talathi while on vacation with her in Miami. The mother and daughter were staying at a short-term rental on June 27 when Neha Gupta called 911 and reported the accidental drowning of her daughter. The first responders arrived and found Talathu in the pool unresponsive. When she was taken to the hospital, she was pronounced dead. The autopsy report later found that there was no water in Talathi's lungs or stomach but she had injuries in her mouth and cheeks, suggesting that she died from asphyxiation by smothering. It was medically concluded that she died before being placed in the pool. Gupta, however, claimed she woke up at 3.20am to some noise outside and found her daughter in the pool. She said they had dinner at 9pm though Talathi's stomach was found empty. Gupta recorded her statement in Miami and came back to Oklahoma when police got a warrant for her arrest. The Miami-Dade Police, with the help of the Oklahoma Police, tracked down Gupta and arrested her. She was extradited to Florida and is now in jail. The 36-year-old doctor was recently fired from OU Health and the University of Oklahoma. She was in a bitter battle with her ex-husband Dr Saurabh Talathi over the custody of their daughter. Neha Gupta was denied sole custody of their daughter.
Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Shocking behavior of Oklahoma pediatrician arrested for 'murdering daughter,' then claiming girl had drowned
A pediatrician mother hid in the laundry room from police as they beat down her door to arrest her for the death of her four-year-old daughter. Dr. Neha Gupta, 36, of Edmond, Oklahoma, was hiding in her home on July 1 when Oklahoma City Police Department and the US Marshals came banging on her door to arrest her. Gupta, who had recently been let go from her job and was in the midst of a custody battle, has been accused of killing her four-year-old daughter, Aria Talathi, while vacationing with her in Florida in June. Police have now accused the pediatrician of smothering her daughter to death and then placing her body in the pool in the backyard of the rental home in hopes of passing it off as accidental drowning. Marshals banged on the mother-of-one's door and yelled at her to come outside, but the mother did not, bodycam footage obtained by Daily Mail showed. After busting in the door, police found the mother hiding in the laundry room in what appeared to be her pajamas. Authorities searched her home with guns draw, finding children's toys - a reminder of the innocent life lost. After opening the laundry room door, they found the mother cowering in a corner. 'Hands, hands,' an officer yelled. 'Come out!' She came out of the room without incident, silently falling to the ground as officers handcuffed her. She was led out through the garage. Police had earlier observed Gupta near the door before retreating into the laundry room, the incident report obtained by Daily Mail said. Aria was vacationing with her mother when she was found unresponsive in the backyard pool of their El Portal, Florida, rental house on June 27. Aria's death came nearly a month after her mother was suspended from her job at OU Health and the University of Oklahoma in May and given a notice of termination. Gupta was also going through a custody battle with her ex-husband, Dr. Saurabh Talathi, after they divorced last year. Talathi, also of Edmond, told investigators that he wasn't aware his ex-wife had taken the toddler out of state, Local 10 News reported. Gupta told police she was awoken by a strange sound on June 27 and found her daughter unresponsive in the backyard pool around 3:30am. Aria was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 4:28am. However, while doctors were examining the little girl, they found cuts and bruising inside the toddler's mouth, suggesting she may have been smothered to death and had her body placed in the pool, NBC Miami reported. They also didn't find water in the girl's lungs - disputing the mother's story that she drowned. Gupta was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. The mother-of-one had told authorities she and the little girl had enjoyed dinner around 9pm before going to sleep in the same bed in the master bedroom of the rental home around 12:30am. When she was awoken by an 'unidentified noise' hours later, she claimed she saw her daughter submerged in the pool. She claimed she had attempted to save her daughter, but was unable to as she didn't know how to swim. Gupta also told police she had attempted to 'assist the deceased victim' for approximately 10 minutes before calling 911. The girl's stomach was also found empty, which contradicted Gupta's claim that she had fed the child earlier that evening. Detectives said surveillance video and the autopsy report burn holes in Gupta's account and suggested she had staged the girl's death. 'The subject attempted to conceal the killing of the deceased victim by staging an accidental drowning within the swimming pool of a rental property,' the affidavit said. The doctor was arrested in Oklahoma City on July 1 by US Marshals and the Oklahoma City Police Department. She was booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center and was held without bond until her extradition. Gupta is still being held without bond at the Miami-Dade Jail in Florida. Miami-Dade Sherriff's Detective Joseph. R. Peguero Rivera told Daily Mail earlier this month that they did not know what the motive was for the brutal crime. It is also unclear if the child's remains are in Florida or if they have been transferred back to Oklahoma. Gupta's lawyer, Richard Cooper, previously told Local 10 that police 'rushed to judgement' and 'as a result, a grieving mother who just lost her daughter is in jail.' 'We look forward to a full investigation which will uncover the truth of the matter,' he said. Gupta is expected back in court for her Florida arraignment hearing on August 7. Daily Mail has reached out to Gupta's attorneys for comment.
