A 28-year-old Virginia mother, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, has been missing for over three weeks. Court documents obtained by CNN affiliate WJLA reveal that her husband, Naresh Bhatt, is accused of killing her inside their home and dragging her body outside. Naresh Bhatt faces a felony charge of prohibition against concealment of a body and was taken into custody after authorities conducted a search warrant on their home.
Although Naresh Bhatt has not been formally charged with murder, a preliminary criminal complaint states that he murdered his wife on or about July 30, 2024. Evidence found in the residence indicated that the body was inside the residence and dragged out. Digital and forensic evidence consistent with her death was also recovered during the investigation.
During the arraignment, the judge did not change the terms of Naresh Bhatt's bail, and he will continue to be held without it. He is scheduled for a bond hearing on Monday morning.
Kafle Bhatt was last seen on July 27 at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center in Manassas. Her husband reported her missing on August 5, three days after a welfare check was conducted at their home. Detectives found a significant lack of recent contact between Kafle Bhatt and her family, friends, and employer, leading to her status being elevated to involuntary/critical missing person status.
Investigators executed multiple search warrants and conducted numerous interviews related to the case. Kafle Bhatt's husband has been a point of interest in her disappearance and has not been cooperative with the police. The couple's infant daughter is being cared for by a caregiver approved by the Department of Social Services.
Kafle Bhatt's family from Nepal is in the process of traveling to the US to try and get emergency custody of her granddaughter. The investigation into Mamta Kafle Bhatt's disappearance continues as authorities work to uncover the truth behind this tragic case.
