MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. (WPLG) – An Oklahoma pediatrician is accused of killing her 4-year-old daughter and staging it as a drowning.
“You were arrested pursuant to an arrest warrant charging you with one count of first-degree murder,” Judge Mindy Glazer said.
While Gupta’s attorney claims there’s been a rush to judgment, the judge said there were several inconsistencies in her story.
“When a medical examiner says that further studies need to be made and there is no official cause of death, how is it that there’s probable cause to charge my client with first-degree murder?” Gupta’s attorney, Michael Mirer, said.
It was in late June that police were called to a short-term rental home in El Portal where Gupta said her daughter, identified as Aria Talathi, had drowned in the pool.
Aria was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police investigated and Gupta left for Oklahoma City. She was later arrested after the medical examiner’s reports revealed no water was found in the child’s lungs or stomach. Instead, the report said there were signs she was smothered to death.
Mirer reminded the court that there is no official cause of death.
“Our concern, Judge, is that this was a rush to judgment,” he said.
Aria’s death comes amid a custody battle between her parents, and her father had no idea the two had traveled to Miami.
He was fighting for full custody and raised concerns over Gupta’s mental health.
Back in court, Judge Glazer asked why it took Gupta ten minutes to call for help.
“She’s a physician. She was attempting to resuscitate the kid and save this child,” Mirer responded.
Glazer, however, cited inconsistencies in Gupta’s story.
“The defendant, Ms. Gupta said they had a nice dinner, put her to bed,” Glazer said. “In the meantime, when they do an autopsy, there’s no food in her stomach to indicate that she had that nice dinner and her lungs were dry.”
Ultimately, Glazer ordered Gupta to be held without bond.
