A 36-year-old mother has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the drowning death of her 4-year-old daughter at a short-term rental in El Portal, Florida, authorities announced Wednesday.
According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO), uniformed officers from the Village of El Portal Police Department responded to a 9-1-1 call at approximately 4:28 a.m. on June 27, reporting that a child was drowning in a residential pool at 156 NW 90 Street. When officers arrived, they found the child, later identified as Aria Talathi, unresponsive in the water. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue transported the girl to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Detectives said the child and her mother, Dr. Neha Gupta — a pediatrician from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — had been staying at the rental property while visiting South Florida. Following an initial investigation and in consultation with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, authorities obtained an arrest warrant for Gupta on charges of first-degree murder.
With help from the Oklahoma City Police Department’s Homicide Unit and the United States Marshals Service, Miami-Dade detectives traveled to Oklahoma, where they located and arrested Gupta. She is currently awaiting extradition to Miami-Dade County.
No arrest affidavit or booking photo has been released at this time. The investigation remains ongoing.
Case #: PD250627188169
Victim: Aria Talathi, 4, W/F
Suspect: Dr. Neha Gupta, 36, W/F
Charge: First-Degree Murder
Location: 156 NW 90 Street, El Portal, Florida
Time of Incident: June 27, 2025, approx. 4:28 a.m.
