A pediatrician from Oklahoma accused of murdering her 4-year-old daughter has been extradited to Miami-Dade County, where she now faces a charge of first-degree murder.
Dr. Neha Gupta, 36, was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center early Thursday morning, jail records show. She is accused of killing her daughter, Aria Talathi, whose body was found in a pool at a short-term rental home in El Portal on June 27.
Initially reported as a drowning, the case took a turn after an autopsy revealed the child showed signs of asphyxiation, not drowning. The medical examiner found no water in Aria’s lungs or stomach, but noted injuries inside her mouth consistent with smothering.
Gupta claimed her daughter had fallen into the pool during the night and that she tried to save her before calling 911. Investigators, however, cited inconsistencies in her account, surveillance footage, and other evidence suggesting the death was staged.
Authorities say Gupta and her daughter had traveled from Oklahoma City to South Florida without informing the girl’s father, Dr. Saurabh Talathi. At the time, the couple were engaged in a custody dispute, and court records show Talathi had raised concerns about Gupta’s mental health.
Gupta had been suspended from her pediatric post at OU Health in May and has since been terminated. The University of Oklahoma confirmed she is no longer affiliated with its health system.
She is being held without bond.
