Miami, FL — Oklahoma pediatrician Neha Gupta is facing a second-degree murder charge in connection with the death of her 4-year-old daughter, Aria Talathi, during a family vacation in Miami, marking a dramatic reversal from last week’s decision to pursue manslaughter charges.
Prosecutors Amend Charges Amid Controversy
The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office revised the charge on Wednesday, aligning with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office’s narrative that Gupta, 36, intentionally killed her daughter and staged it to look like a drowning. Gupta’s attorney, Richard Cooper, criticized the shift.
“It is really baffling how [state prosecutors] are waffling,” Cooper told Miami Herald. “Now they are saying it was an intentional killing? Something stinks.”
The amended second-degree murder charge accuses Gupta of intentionally killing her daughter without premeditation, marking the second time prosecutors have altered the case. Previously, Gupta had been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, after a brief period when a first-degree murder charge was considered.
Defense Questions Prosecutorial Decisions
Cooper expressed concerns that pressure from Aria’s family may have influenced law enforcement and prosecutors. He noted:
“[Prosecutors] at one point said she failed to properly secure a bolt, which was essentially them saying they agree with the defense that the poor girl died by accident. Now they’re going back to murder?”
Despite the charge changes, Gupta’s defense strategy has not wavered.
“Dr. Gupta’s defense remains the same; they can charge whatever they want,” Cooper said. “She is innocent. She did not kill her child and took all available measures to protect her. It was a tragic and random accident.”
— Richard Cooper, attorney
Tragic Incident During Family Vacation
Gupta and Aria were visiting South Florida in late June, staying at an Airbnb in El Portal, just north of Miami. On June 27, the pair spent the day on the beach and riding personal watercrafts. Gupta reported to authorities that she awoke during the night to find Aria missing from bed.
“She found the sliding glass door open and Aria submerged in the pool. She said she could not swim and spent 10 minutes trying to save her before calling 911,” according to the arrest warrant (Miami Herald).
Medical Examiner Reports Smothering, Not Drowning
Dr. Tuyet Tran, Miami-Dade medical examiner, ruled out drowning after examining Aria’s lungs and stomach. Bruises inside the cheeks and cuts in the mouth suggested asphyxiation, likely smothering, before the child was placed in the pool. Authorities concluded that Gupta, as Aria’s caretaker, caused her death and staged the scene.
- The autopsy report has not been fully released.
- Social media questioned Gupta’s claim she could not swim, as she has discussed her enjoyment of swimming-related activities in interviews.
“I love adventure sports… I love scuba diving, snorkeling and skydiving,” Gupta said in a YouTube interview. “It has been a lot of fun.”
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Proceedings
The case remains active, and Gupta’s legal team is preparing motions for her release from custody. The frequent charge revisions have drawn criticism and raised questions about the consistency of the prosecutorial process.
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