A US-based Indian-origin pediatrician, Dr. Neha Gupta, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of her four-year-old daughter, Aria Talathi, according to US law enforcement authorities.
The case has drawn attention following the release of the emergency 911 call placed by Dr. Gupta, in which she reported that her daughter had drowned in a swimming pool. Details of the charges and the recorded call have been reported previously by MedBound Times. The death of the daughter happened on June 27, 2025.
According to call that is available online on social media, Dr. Gupta contacted emergency services to report that her child was in the swimming pool and unresponsive.
In the audio recording released by US authorities, Dr. Gupta can be heard telling the dispatcher:
“My daughter is in the pool… I don’t know how to swim.”
She further stated:
“She’s under the water.”
During the call, the responder asked Dr. Gupta to find something to drag her out. But she says:
“I can’t get her out… I don’t have anything to get her out.”
Emergency responders were dispatched to the residence following the call. But the child was pronounced dead on arrival in a nearby hospital.
Officials later stated that an autopsy report raised questions about the initial claim of accidental drowning, leading to further investigation and Dr. Gupta was arrested in July 2025 and placed under custody without bond.
Dr. Gupta had stated in an affidavit that she and her daughter had dinner around 9 pm and went to bed after midnight. Around 3.30 am she heard some noise and found the door open and her child in the pool. She tried calling emergency services at the time.
Investigators said that the autopsy findings did not fully align with a straightforward accidental drowning scenario.
The autopsy found no water in her lungs and no food in her stomach. Instead found cuts in the inner lip and cheeks, consistent with smothering.
Law enforcement authorities subsequently arrested Dr. Gupta and charged her with second-degree murder.
Second-degree murder charges in the United States typically indicate an intentional killing that was not premeditated or planned in advance, though legal definitions vary by state.
Authorities have not publicly released further forensic details at this stage, and the case remains under judicial review.
At the time of the incident, Dr. Gupta had been in a custody battle with her ex-husband for the daughter and had not informed him about their travel to Florida. Their divorce was finalised in 2024, and a custody battle was going on between them with the father asking for custody. Dr. Gupta was also let go from her job on May 30th, 2025. The ex-husband had asked the court for psychological evaluation for Dr. Gupta during their divorce and custody battle and fought for a sole custody since he believed she is not in a mental state to care for the child.
In pediatric cases, accidental drownings most commonly occur in residential swimming pools. Survival outcomes depend heavily on rapid rescue and resuscitation.
Autopsy findings in suspected drowning cases typically assess:
Water in airways
Pulmonary edema
Signs of hypoxic injury
External or internal trauma
Investigators often rely on both medical and forensic evidence to determine cause and manner of death.
US authorities have confirmed that Dr. Gupta is facing formal charges. The case will proceed through the judicial system, where evidence including forensic findings and the 911 call recording may be examined in court.
No additional official statements have been released regarding trial timelines at the time of publication.
(Rh)