NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Washington, DC, December 3, 2024 – A 37-year-old man, Naresh Bhatt, has been formally charged with the murder of his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, in addition to charges of defiling and concealing her body, authorities announced.
Mamta Kafle Bhatt was reported missing in late July, and investigators have since suspected that she was killed on or around July 30. Evidence suggests she died during a violent struggle in the couple’s home.
Search warrants executed in August revealed blood stains in the bedroom and bathroom of their residence, and surveillance footage captured Bhatt purchasing cleaning products the day after her presumed death. Despite these findings, Mamta’s body has not yet been located.
According to court records, Naresh Bhatt googled “How long does it take to get married after spouse dies” months before his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, went missing.
The couple lived in Manassas Park, a DC suburb with their young daughter. Bhatt was reportedly a Fairfax County Police recruit in 2020, but dismissed after 22 days for not meeting role requirements. Mamta worked as a pediatric nurse at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center.
Bhatt was initially arrested in August and charged with concealing a dead body, a class six felony. He was denied bond at that time. Court documents show Bhatt waived his right to a grand jury trial and a preliminary hearing, signaling an intent for a swift resolution to the case. His defense team also requested a speedy trial, while prosecutors continued to collect evidence, including phone records and tracking data from a vehicle Bhatt sold shortly before his arrest.
The community in Manassas Park has played an active role in the search for Mamta. Police officers, supported by local residents, combed through multiple locations, including Blooms Park and Camp Carondelet, while Mamta’s friends organized vigils and additional search efforts.
Mamta’s family, including her mother and brother, traveled to the U.S. during the search and are now caring for her 1-year-old daughter, Neema.
During a Monday evening press conference, Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo confirmed the murder charge and shared chilling details, stating, “I just know that whatever happened in that house, it was murder.” Lugo suggested evidence indicates Mamta’s body may have been dismembered.
Cover photo courtesy of Facebook/Mamta Kafle Bhatt
