A heartbreaking incident occurred in Florida where a 36-year-old pediatrician, Neha Gupta, was arrested in connection with the death of her 4-year-old daughter.
The young child was found in the backyard swimming pool of a rental property in El Portal, Florida, leading authorities to suspect the mother’s involvement in her daughter’s death.
The case has taken a disturbing turn as investigators believe the drowning was staged to cover up the crime.
The Discovery of the Child’s Body
On the early morning of June 27, first responders were called to a 911 emergency in the 100 block of Northwest 90th Street, near Miami. The call reported an unresponsive child, and when authorities arrived, they found the girl submerged in the deep end of the pool.
Despite the best efforts to revive her, the child was pronounced dead shortly afterward at Jackson Memorial Hospital at 4:28 a.m.
Gupta, who was staying at the short-term rental property with her daughter, was the one to alert emergency responders. She led them to the backyard where her daughter was found.
Authorities noted that Gupta had locked the sliding doors to the property before going to sleep, yet the doors were open when she awoke and noticed her daughter missing.
Investigations Raise Suspicion of Foul Play
As the investigation unfolded, authorities began to uncover troubling details about the child’s death. Initially, it appeared to be an accidental drowning. However, an autopsy revealed key evidence suggesting otherwise.
The child’s lungs and stomach showed no signs of water, which ruled out drowning as the cause of death. The autopsy also found injuries to the child’s mouth and face, inconsistent with CPR attempts.
Based on these findings, authorities suspected that the child had been smothered before being placed in the pool, as the injuries suggested asphyxiation. The medical examiner noted that the child’s stomach was empty, which contradicted Gupta’s statement that they had eaten dinner together the previous evening.
Neha Gupta’s Actions and Statements
Gupta, who had arrived in Florida with her daughter just two days before the tragedy, gave a detailed account of the events. She claimed that after spending the day riding jet skis and at the beach, she and her daughter went to bed around 12:30 a.m.
Gupta said she woke up at 3:20 a.m. and found her daughter missing from the bed. After noticing the open sliding door, she went outside and discovered her daughter in the pool.
Gupta attempted to rescue her daughter despite not being able to swim. She contacted emergency services about 10 minutes later. The police affidavit suggests that Gupta’s story was inconsistent with the evidence gathered at the scene, which led to her arrest.
Custody Battle and Legal Actions
Further investigation revealed that Gupta was involved in an ongoing custody dispute over her daughter with her ex-husband, who was unaware that Gupta had taken the child to Florida.
This information added another layer of complexity to the case. Authorities believe Gupta may have been trying to cover up the murder by staging the death as a drowning.
Following the arrest, Gupta was charged with first-degree murder and is currently being held in Oklahoma, awaiting extradition to Florida. Her employer, OU Health, confirmed that she had been suspended from patient care and had been given notice of termination earlier in May.
The Defense’s Response
Gupta’s defense attorney, Richard L. Cooper, has expressed disappointment over the charges. He criticized the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office for charging Gupta so soon after the incident.
Cooper emphasized that Gupta had been cooperative with the investigation and questioned the speed of the legal proceedings, especially given the tragic nature of the event.
This case highlights a tragic and disturbing event that has left many questioning the circumstances surrounding the death of a young child. While initial reports suggested a drowning, the evidence now points to a far darker reality.
Neha Gupta, a pediatrician with a history of medical work, now faces serious charges that have shocked her family, community, and the public at large.
As the investigation continues, the truth behind this tragedy will hopefully come to light, providing some closure for those affected by this heartbreaking incident.
