NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
ORLANDO, Fla. | October 8, 2026: A Louisiana physician has been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child after investigators said she failed to intervene for several minutes while a 7-year-old boy drowned in a community swimming pool in Orlando, Florida.
Sukanthini “Suki” Subbiah was arrested on October 5 in connection with the April 10 drowning at the Everbe community pool. Police initially investigated the death as an accident but later determined that her alleged failure to act constituted culpable negligence.
According to an arrest affidavit cited by local news outlets, Subbiah was visiting family in Orlando when she took her 7-year-old son and two neighboring twins, also 7, to the community pool. The twins’ mother had given her permission to take the children swimming.
Investigators said the boy, identified in some news reports as Khushil Bandi, was not wearing a life jacket, although his twin sister was. Subbiah reportedly told detectives that she assumed the boy knew how to swim.
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed the children entering the pool around 6:19 p.m. The boy began struggling in the water shortly afterward, turning in circles and splashing before going underwater at approximately 6:21 p.m.
Police allege that Subbiah looked toward the area where the child was submerged but did not immediately attempt to rescue him.
According to the affidavit, she entered the pool around 6:26 p.m. but stopped when the water reached her knees. She then directed the other two 7-year-olds to retrieve the boy. When they were unable to do so, she sought assistance from another adult at the pool.
The man eventually pulled the boy from the water after he had been submerged for more than seven minutes. The child was rushed to a hospital, where he later died.
Investigators said Subbiah initially told them the boy had been underwater for approximately 45 seconds before she sought help. However, surveillance footage contradicted that account.
During a subsequent interview, Subbiah reportedly acknowledged that the boy may have been underwater for about two minutes and told detectives that she had frozen during the emergency.
Police argued that Subbiah’s medical training made her aware of the dangers of prolonged submersion and oxygen deprivation.
Investigators also questioned her decision to ask two young children to attempt the rescue rather than immediately intervening herself.
In the arrest affidavit, investigators described that decision as demonstrating a gross disregard for the boy’s safety. They concluded that Subbiah had an opportunity to intervene earlier and potentially prevent the child’s death.
Under Florida law, aggravated manslaughter of a child is a first-degree felony involving a death caused by culpable negligence.
Subbiah was booked into the Orange County Jail. Reports indicate that she has pleaded not guilty.
Her attorney, Rajan Joshi, disputed the allegation that her conduct amounted to a crime.
“Accidents do happen every day. We don’t see criminal liability in this case,” Joshi told WFTV.
He said Subbiah had voluntarily surrendered to authorities, cooperated with investigators and intended to fight the charge in court.
Joshi described the drowning as a tragedy and said his client had dedicated her professional life to saving lives. He declined to address the specific timeline presented by investigators.
The case centers on whether Subbiah’s alleged failure to intervene during the emergency amounted to criminal negligence rather than an accidental drowning.
The allegations against her have not been proven in court.
