Megha Saluja, a resident of Fleming, Florida, has been indicted for the murder of Alana Miccolis, her alleged girlfriend, and a former University of Central Florida student who was brutally murdered on December 8th, 2023.
After months of investigations and legal proceedings, Saluja, 27, was indicted on June 1st and arrested on June 4th, 2024.
Meghan Saluja was booked into the Orange County jail in Florida, charged with first-degree murder with a firearm.
Per the facts of the case, sometime on December 8th, 2023, Saluja shot and killed Alana Miccolis.
Miccolis was a 26-year-old University of Central Florida graduate from Tampa who was a Marine Biologist and a spark in the lives of those around her.
Saluja took her life in cruel fashion, denying the world her talents and her family and friends of her invaluable presence.
Following her arrest and incarceration, Alana’s sister, Charlene, took to social media to rejoice.
“On December 8th, 2023 my sister was taken from us forever. A grand jury indicted the person responsible and she was arrested on June 1st, 2024. Now we wait for trial,” Charlene Miccolis said.
She extended thanks to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for their tireless work to get Saluja to pay for her crimes and also thanked everyone for respecting the family’s privacy.
“Thank you for praying for our family as we continue to navigate the impossible. Thank you for praying for justice. #JusticeForAlanaM,” Charlene concluded.
Police Arrest Megha Saluja for the Murder of Alana Miccolis of Tampa
Alana Miccolis was a Marine biologist from Tampa, born 26 years ago to Chuck and Joan Miccolis (née Cunningham).
She had a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Central Florida, as well as a Masters in Marine Science from Unity Environmental University.
Miccolis worked as a scuba diver and Marine Biologist volunteer at the Florida Aquarium.
Her family and friends described Alana as smart, beautiful, kind, caring, and loving. She had a beautiful smile that lit up a room and was a darling to everyone she met.
Alana’s beauty shined inside and out and was manifested in her love for all things nature and in the environment.
She had a peculiar love for the ocean (as can be expected from a marine biologist) but also loved music and exploring the outdoors.
According to her sister Charlene, Alana’s biggest dream was to find a way to save the ocean by protecting reefs and coral restoration.
Her death stunned her family as they had lost a bright beacon and a figure of hope.
How did Alana die?
Alana was found dead at the Waldorf Astoria on Bonnet Creek Resort Lane.
Authorities initially considered the death a suicide but further investigations were carried out based on evidentiary findings that did not line up with a suicide.
Orange County Sheriff’s Office investigators discovered that Saluja and Miccolis were actually in a relationship and honed in on her as a suspect, leading to the discovery of more damning evidence.
The Orange County State Attorney’s office presented the information to a grand jury, securing an indictment.
Due to the nature of the investigation and grand jury proceedings, little information is being provided beyond what has been released, making it difficult to decipher how the two women knew each other, how long they dated for, or even the circumstances leading to Saluja killing her girlfriend.
The Miccolis family is now focused on fighting for justice for their daughter and getting Megha Saluja to pay for her crime and rightfully so.
Thankfully, the wheels of justice, albeit slow, are still moving and with Saluja in custody now, her trial should come up soon and lead to a deserving sentence for her.