Oklahoma Pediatrician Arrested for Alleged Drowning of Daughter in Miami
Miami, FL – A tragic incident has unfolded as the mother of a four-year-old girl, found unconscious in a swimming pool in Miami-Dade County, has been charged with murder. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO) announced the arrest of Dr. Neha Gupta, a 36-year-old pediatrician from Oklahoma City, on Wednesday. Gupta is accused of staging the drowning of her daughter, whose body was discovered on June 27, 2025.
Currently, Dr. Gupta is in custody and will soon be extradited to Miami-Dade County where she faces a first-degree murder charge. Gupta’s attorney, Richard L. Cooper, expressed strong disappointment regarding the arrest, highlighting his client’s cooperation with law enforcement throughout the investigation. He stated, “Dr. Gupta met with the police and State Attorney’s Office at our request and was 100% cooperative with the investigation.”
Details Surrounding the Incident
According to the preliminary findings from MDSO, Dr. Gupta and her daughter were visiting from Oklahoma City and staying in a short-term rental in El Portal, a small village adjacent to Miami. Early in the morning of June 27, police officers received a distress call regarding a drowning child at a residential pool located near Northwest 90th Street and Northwest 1st Avenue.
Emergency responders, including Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, arrived shortly after 3:40 a.m. However, the young girl was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she was sadly pronounced dead.
Details from the police investigation revealed that a woman at the rental property witnessed the child in the pool but was unable to assist her. While it is still unclear if this individual was Gupta herself, corresponding police transmissions indicated a sense of urgency as the dispatcher communicated the situation.
Conflicting Accounts and Ongoing Investigation
In her statements to the authorities, Gupta reportedly claimed that she and her daughter were asleep when she was awakened by a noise around 2:30 a.m. Upon realizing the sliding door was open, she found her daughter submerged in the pool and attempted to revive her for approximately ten minutes before calling 911.
Additional documents revealed that Gupta and her ex-husband were engaged in a custody dispute, and her ex-partner was reportedly unaware of the visit to Miami.
| Key Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Incident Date | June 27, 2025 |
| Charged Individual | Dr. Neha Gupta |
| Victim’s Age | 4 years old |
| Current Status | In custody awaiting extradition |
| Charge | First-degree murder |
Autopsy Findings Raise Questions
Following the autopsy performed on the deceased child, the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office discovered no water in the child’s lungs or stomach, suggesting that she had not drowned as initially presumed. Further, the medical examination indicated injuries consistent with smothering.
The arrest documents emphasized that Dr. Gupta was responsible for her daughter’s care and allege that she may have attempted to disguise the act of murder by making it appear as an accidental drowning. Investigators describe the tragic situation as a haunting testament to what appears to be a deeper family struggle.
As the investigation continues, the community waits anxiously for more information regarding this heartbreaking case.
