NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
fleakMANASSAS PARK, Va, May 28, 2026 — Prosecutors have revealed new forensic evidence in the case of Mamta Kafle Bhatt, the Manassas Park woman they allege was killed by her husband, even though her body has never been found.
According to recently filed court documents, forensic investigators recovered human hairs, hair fragments, fibers, and debris from a handheld power saw that has been a key piece of evidence in the case against Naresh Bhatt, Mamta’s husband.
The filings state that investigators found three human hairs and 13 human hair fragments on the saw. Authorities said the hairs may be suitable for nuclear DNA testing and have been submitted for further analysis. The results of those tests have not yet been released.
The new findings add to a growing body of forensic evidence prosecutors say links Naresh Bhatt to the disappearance and presumed death of his wife.
Mamta Kafle Bhatt, a Nepal-born nurse and mother, was reported missing in August 2024 after she failed to show up for work and stopped communicating with family and friends. Investigators later alleged that she had been killed inside the couple’s home in Manassas Park.
Although Mamta’s remains have never been recovered, authorities have charged Naresh Bhatt with first-degree murder, concealing a dead body, and physically defiling a dead body.
Previous court proceedings revealed that blood was recovered from the power saw. Prosecutors have said DNA testing indicated that Mamta could not be excluded as a contributor to the DNA profile found on the tool, while Naresh Bhatt and the couple’s young daughter were excluded as major contributors.
Investigators have also cited blood evidence found in the couple’s home, surveillance footage, digital evidence, and internet searches allegedly conducted by Naresh Bhatt in the days before and after his wife’s disappearance.
According to earlier court filings, Bhatt allegedly searched topics related to remarriage after a spouse’s death and the financial obligations associated with a deceased spouse. Prosecutors have also said he purchased knives and cleaning supplies shortly after Mamta was last seen.
The case has drawn widespread attention because prosecutors are pursuing a murder conviction without a body, relying instead on forensic, digital, and circumstantial evidence to prove Mamta is dead and that her husband is responsible.
Naresh Bhatt has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains in custody. His trial is currently scheduled to begin in October 2026.
The newly recovered hairs could become a significant piece of evidence if DNA testing confirms they belonged to Mamta Kafle Bhatt, potentially strengthening prosecutors’ argument about what happened to her after she disappeared nearly two years ago.
