‘She’s at the bottom of the pool’: Indian origin doctor’s 911 call in daughter’s death case released

Washington: US authorities have released the chilling 911 call made by Indian-origin paediatrician Neha Gupta, who is accused of killing her four-year-old daughter during a trip to Florida in June 2025.

Gupta, 37, was arrested months after the incident and charged in connection with the death of her daughter, Aria Talathi. Investigators allege that the emergency call was staged to make the child’s death appear accidental.

What happened in Florida?

According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, Gupta and her daughter had travelled from Oklahoma to Miami and were staying at a short-term rental property when the incident occurred.

In her statement to investigators, Gupta claimed that her daughter wandered out of the house at night and fell into the swimming pool.

In the recording released by authorities, Gupta can be heard telling the dispatcher that she found her daughter in the pool and tried to rescue her.

“She was in the pool, I tried to save her, but I don’t know how to swim,” Gupta said during the call. She added that she and her daughter were alone at the rental property.

When asked whether the child was conscious, Gupta responded that the girl was “at the bottom of the pool” and “not moving.” The dispatcher repeatedly urged her to attempt to pull the child out while emergency responders were on their way.

Gupta said she was unsure of the pool’s depth but estimated it to be around nine feet.

Police officers who arrived at the scene were heard retrieving the child from the water.

Autopsy findings raise questions

Gupta reportedly told paramedics she did not know how long her daughter had been in the pool, estimating it could have been about 20 minutes.

However, the autopsy results contradicted the drowning claim. Authorities said no water was found in the child’s lungs or stomach, suggesting she had died before being placed in the pool.

Investigators believe the child was smothered prior to being put in the water.

Gupta was later taken into custody and remains in jail without bond. She has denied the allegations, and her legal team maintains that the child’s death was a tragic accident.

She is scheduled to appear in court again in May.

Custody dispute background

At the time of the incident, Aria’s father had reportedly been seeking full custody of the child and had expressed concerns about Gupta’s mental health. Police records indicate he was unaware that his daughter had been taken to Florida.