The husband of missing Virginia pediatric nurse Mamta Kafle Bhatt remains in police custody without bond as the search for her presumably dead body continues.
Naresh Bhatt was arrested on August 22 at the couple’s Manassas Park home and charged with one felony count of concealing a dead body. He was the last person to see his wife on July 31.
Naresh Bhatt and Mamta Kafle Bhatt. The search for Mamta Kafle Bhatt continues as her husband, Naresh Bhatt, remains in jail.
Mamta did not show up for work at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center on August 1, which was out of character. Officers conducted a wellness check for her at the couple’s home on August 2 and spoke to Naresh Bhatt, who did not want to report her missing at that time. Naresh formally reported her missing to police on August 5.
Newsweek called Naresh Bhatt on August 14. He claimed to have difficulty hearing a Newsweek reporter as he was changing their 1-year-old daughter’s diaper, who could be heard in the background. The call got disconnected and a call back went to voice mail.
Blood In Bedroom, Strange Google Searches
On Friday, prosecutors revealed that there was evidence of pooled blood in the primary bedroom and blood splatter in the master bathroom of the home. They also indicated that investigators found signs suggesting a body had been dragged. Multiple local news outlets reported watching investigators loading large rolls of carpet into a Prince William County police van.
In presenting their case, the prosecution noted that Naresh Bhatt had changed his story multiple times regarding when he last saw his wife. They pointed out that her cellphone was still active on Aug. 1, the day after Naresh Bhatt claimed he last saw her. The phone’s last location was in Loudoun County, where police have video footage of Naresh Bhatt purchasing cleaning supplies at a Walmart.
Additionally, Naresh Bhatt was seen buying a set of knives at a Walmart in Prince William County, and prosecutors stated that two of those knives are now missing.
Prosecutors reportedly claimed Naresh Bhatt conducted Google searches in April, including, “How long does it take to get married when spouse dies?” and “What happens to debt when a spouse dies?”
The prosecution also highlighted evidence that Naresh Bhatt was in the process of packing up his home and selling his car, with passports for him and the couple’s 1-year-old daughter visible when police conducted their search. Naresh Bhatt appeared in court Friday in an orange jumpsuit, remained silent in front of the judge, and used an interpreter for the proceedings.
In response, the defense attorney argued for Naresh Bhatt’s release, claiming there was no evidence of flight and asserting that purchasing cleaning supplies is not incriminating. The attorney also contested that there is no proof the blood found in the home belonged to Mamta or that she had been murdered.
Naresh Bhatt is scheduled to return to court on Thursday. So far, prosecutors have not provided evidence to charge him with murder, and he has not admitted to killing his wife.
Mamta’s Family Arrives In US
Both Mamta and Naresh Bhatt are originally from Nepal. Nearly a month after Mamta’s disappearance, her mother and brother finally arrived in the United States this week.
“We would like to let everyone know that Mamta’s mom and brother has been reunited with Mini Mamta,” Bandita Sharma-Dahal, Esq., the family’s immigration attorney told WUSA9 on Tuesday, giving Mamta’s daughter a nickname for privacy purposes.
“We request community and media to give them privacy. They will speak up when they feel comfortable. We will not be disclosing their location at this time. They are dealing with unimaginable pain so please be kind to them. #JusticeForMamta”
For now, “Mini Mamta” will remain with her mother’s family. However, this could change since Mamta’s family are Nepalese citizens, while the baby is a US citizen.
“That’s still a big question. We still need to talk about it. We are at the very early phase right now,” Sharma-Dahal told the outlet. “We are yet to have that discussion because right now, although Naresh is in custody, he is still the father of the child.”
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