A newly released 911 call shows what happened just before an Indian-origin doctor drowned her four-year-old daughter at a rental home in El Portal, Florida, last year. Oklahoma-based paediatrician Neha Gupta is charged with second-degree murder following the death of her daughter, Aria Talathi, on June 27, 2025. Prosecutors allege the drowning was staged to cover up the child’s killing.In the emergency call, Gupta told dispatchers that her daughter was in the swimming pool and unresponsive.“She was in the pool, I tried to save her, but I don’t know how to swim,” the then-36-year-old Gupta is heard saying in the 911 recording, reports Local 10.Gupta claimed the child had entered the pool at the rental property while she was asleep. The operator repeatedly urged her to try to remove the child from the water.“You need to try and get her out of the water,” the operator tells her. They added, “Find something to see if you can try to pull her out with.”At one point, Gupta asked, “Do you know how far EMS is?”The operator replied: “They’re on the way, they’re on the way but you need to try to help her. Find any way you can to try and get her out.”Gupta told authorities she did not know how long Aria had been in the pool, saying about 20 minutes. However, medical examinations raised serious doubts about her account. Officials reported that no water was found in the child’s lungs or stomach, concluding that she was dead before being placed in the pool. Investigators believe she was smothered.Gupta was arrested at her home in Oklahoma and extradited to Florida. She remains in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with no bond. She is due back in court in May.Father was unaware about childThe case has gained more attention because of a custody battle. Aria’s father was trying to get full custody and had raised concerns about Gupta’s mental health. He reportedly did not know that his daughter had been taken to Florida.Last year, a judge denied Gupta bail, saying the charges were serious and that prosecutors had strong evidence. Investigators also said there were contradictions in her statements, including her claim that she and Aria had dinner, even though no food was found in the child’s stomach.Gupta and her lawyers say Aria’s death was an accident. They also claim the investigation was rushed and based only on circumstantial evidence.
