Oklahoma Pediatrician Arrested in Connection with Daughter’s Drowning
A Texas-based pediatrician has been arrested on suspicion of murdering her four-year-old daughter, who was discovered unresponsive in a swimming pool in Miami-Dade County. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Dr. Neha Gupta, 36, on Wednesday, stating that she staged the drowning incident to obscure the circumstances of her child’s death.
Details of the Incident
Authorities report that Gupta, who resides in Oklahoma City, and her daughter had been vacationing in a short-term rental in El Portal, a village near Miami. On June 27, the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue teams responded to emergency calls regarding a child in distress in a residential pool at approximately 3:40 a.m. Despite urgent efforts to revive her, the little girl was pronounced dead later that day at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
According to police communications, a witness at the rental property saw the child in the pool but was unable to intervene. It remains unconfirmed whether this individual was Dr. Gupta herself.
Gupta’s Account of Events
In her account to the police, Gupta claimed that both she and her daughter had been asleep when the incident occurred. She stated that around 2:30 a.m., she awoke to a loud noise and discovered the sliding door open. Upon going outside, she reportedly found her daughter at the bottom of the pool and attempted to rescue her for approximately ten minutes before calling for help.
Ongoing Investigation and Evidence
Further investigations revealed that Gupta and her ex-husband were embroiled in a custody battle at the time. Unbeknownst to the father, Gupta had taken their daughter to Miami during this sensitive period. An autopsy performed on the child revealed that neither her lungs nor stomach contained water, suggesting asphyxiation rather than drowning as the cause of death. Additionally, the examination noted significant bruises and injuries consistent with potential smothering.
| Key Developments | Details |
|---|---|
| Incident Date | June 27, 2025 |
| Arrest Date | July 2, 2025 |
| Charge | First-degree Murder |
| Place of Incident | El Portal, Miami-Dade |
| Authorities Involved | Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office |
Statements from Legal Representatives
Richard L. Cooper, Gupta’s attorney, expressed deep disappointment over the arrest, emphasizing the tragedy of losing a child. He criticized the investigation’s swiftness, suggesting that more thorough inquiry should have taken precedent before such a severe charge was levied against a grieving mother. He stated, “Let’s assume for a second that my client is innocent: She has had the worst tragedy imaginable occur, and then she’s locked up without bond and is missing her own daughter’s funeral.”
In light of these events, OU Health and the University of Oklahoma reported that Gupta was suspended from her medical duties on May 30, preceding her arrest.
