Police in Virginia are investigating the disappearance of a pediatric nurse who has been missing for nearly two weeks under what they believe are “involuntary circumstances.”
Mamta Kafle Bhatt, 28, who is also the mother of an 11-month-old child, was last seen in Manassas Park on July 31. She did not show up for work at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center on August 1.
Her husband, Naresh Bhatt, reported her missing to police on August 5.
Mamta Kafle Bhatt, 28, has not spoken to her friends or family since July 31.
Manassas Park Police Captain Steve Loving told Newsweek that Bhatt’s husband, friends, and co-workers have been cooperative with their investigation.
A UVA Health spokesperson told Newsweek, “Our sympathies go out to those who know Mamta Kafle Bhatt, and our thoughts remain with Mamta, her loved ones and her colleagues. UVA Health has been cooperating with the police investigation from the outset, and we continue to work closely with police investigators to aid them however possible in their search efforts.”
Newsweek called Naresh Bhatt on Wednesday. He claimed to have difficulty hearing a Newsweek reporter as he was changing their child’s diaper, who could be heard in the background. The call got disconnected and a call back went to voicemail.
Naresh Bhatt’s Facebook page states he is a US Army Veteran and has several photos in uniform. His profile says he is originally from Mahendranagar, Nepal.
Police issued a missing person alert over the weekend, stating Bhatt has had no contact with family or friends since July 31. She is described as 5 feet tall and weighing around 130 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
A clothing description of what she was wearing at the time of her disappearance was not available to police and Bhatt does not own any vehicles.
Anyone with information on Bhatt’s whereabouts should contact Manassas Park police at 703-361-1136.
Bhatt’s friends and family have launched their own search mission as police continue their interviews. A friend who created the “Find Mamta Kafle Bhatt” Facebook page has organized a ground search event at Blooms Park Trail at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. A GoFundMe to aid their search efforts quickly exceeded its original $1,000 goal and is now aiming for $4,000 to “rent a giant billboard in Fairfax.”
On Tuesday, Sunit Basnet Thapa, Bhatt’s mentor when she worked at Inova Fairfax Hospital, was one of about 35 people who gathered at the Manassas Park Police Station hoping for information on her friend.
“She’s a couple years older than my daughter, she’s like my child,” Thapa told Inside Nova. “I consider she’s my own child, This is a loving mother missing. She is very strong, determined and hardworking.”
Nadia Navarro, Bhatt’s former roommate also talked to the outlet, claiming Bhatt tried to call her on July 28 but she was busy and didn’t get back to her right away.
“I feel horrible about it now,” Navarro said.
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