MIAMI — An Oklahoma pediatrician is once again facing a murder charge in connection with the June 27 death of her daughter in South Florida.
Dr. Neha Gupta, 36, of Oklahoma City, was originally charged with first-degree murder days after the death of Aria Talathi at a short-term rental home at 156 NW 90th St. in El Portal.
Aria, 4, was found unresponsive in the pool, and Gupta claimed she drowned, authorities said. But prosecutors alleged that evidence showed that the drowning was staged and the little girl showed signs of “asphyxiation by smothering.”
On Aug. 6, prosecutors downgraded the first-degree murder charge to aggravated manslaughter.
But on Wednesday, prosecutors again added a murder charge: This time, second-degree. Records show they are no longer pursuing a manslaughter case.
Gupta, arrested at her home in the Sooner State by U.S. Marshals and Oklahoma City police on July 1, remained at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as of Thursday evening.
The doctor’s attorneys have maintained her innocence and that Aria’s death was an accident. They have criticized Miami-Dade deputies and prosecutors for what they characterize as a “rush to judgment.”
A hearing in the case is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday.
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
