Husband of missing Mamta Kafle Bhatt sold car days before his arrest – as cops search home & find ‘promising’ new clues
By Alexandra Chomik,
2024-08-28
A HUSBAND who remains behind bars in connection to the disappearance of his wife made some suspicious Google searches and sold his car – cops are convinced these discoveries are damning.
Naresh Bhatt first reported that his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, was missing on August 5, three days after police were called to their Manassas Park, Virginia , home to conduct a welfare check.
Mamta Kafle Bhatt (front), Naresh Bhatt, and their daughter, Neema Facebook/Mamta Kafle Bhatt A police van parked outside of Mamta and Naresh’s home in Manassas Park, Virginia Fox 5 Naresh Bhatt was arrested and charged in connection with his wife’s disappearance Manassas Park Police Department Police Chief Mario Lugo told reporters his department is ‘making progress’ in their investigation FOX 5 Mamta Kafle Bhatt pictured with her daughter Neema Facebook/Mamta Kafle Bhatt
Prince William County authorities executed another search at the Bhatt’s residence on Tuesday, following up on several leads they say are crucial to their investigation.
Manassas Park police chief Mario Lugo confirmed that while detectives cannot disclose all of the additional evidence they found, they are “making progress” in their search, as reported by Fox affiliate WTTG .
The news comes just one day after Naresh, 37, appeared in court for his scheduled bond hearing.
On Monday morning, Naresh’s defense attorney revealed that his client had sold his car just days before his arrest.
Police tracked down the Tesla at a local dealership.
Chief Lugo confirmed that while police were able to retrieve the missing vehicle, investigators are still awaiting the results of a search warrant issued on the car.
SUSPICIOUS SEARCHES
During Monday’s bond hearing , prosecutors revealed they had also received new evidence from the US Secret Service.
In April, Naresh reportedly used his work computer to search for a number of disturbing queries.
Prosecutors claim he allegedly made a Google search for “How long does it take to get married when spouse die,” as reported by CBS affiliate WUSA.
Naresh’s second suspicious Google search was, “What happen [sic] to debt died spouse.”
In the weeks leading up to Mamta’s disappearance, prosecutors said that in addition to selling his vehicle, Naresh was also looking into selling the family’s home.
During one of their first investigations of the couple’s residence, police found many items already packed or boxed up.
They also found passports for both Naresh and his 1-year-old daughter.
Using Bluestar technology, investigators also found large amounts of blood in the couple’s primary bedroom and bathroom.
Timeline of Mamta's disappearance
Manassas Park mom Mamta Kafle Bhatt has been missing since at least July 31.
July 27 – Mamta was last seen at her job as a pediatric nurse at the UVA Health Prince William Medical Center
July 28 – Mamta spoke to her friend on the phone and posted a video of her daughter, Neema, on her TikTok account
July 30 – Naresh travels to a nearby Walmart, allegedly purchases three knives, two of which are still unaccounted for
July 31 – Naresh claims this is the last time he saw Mamta
July 31 – Naresh travels to the same Walmart, allegedly purchases cleaning supplies
August 2 – Mamta’s co-workers called a welfare check to her house. Police spoke to Naresh, who didn’t want to report her as missing
August 5 – Naresh officially reports Mamta as missing
August 21 – Police search Mamta and Naresh’s home. Naresh is named as a person of interest as cops claim he’s not cooperating with police
August 22 – Naresh was handcuffed and taken into police custody
August 26 – Naresh is denied bond during a scheduled court hearing, with the judge noting that he poses a significant flight risk
August 27 – Police execute another search warrant on the couple’s home. They spend three hours combing through the property and unearth new, still undisclosed evidence
They said it appeared as though a body had been “dragged out” of the couple’s home.
Naresh’s attorney tried to argue that the amount of blood was minimal.
“That’s maybe a nosebleed, judge,” the defense attorney said.
Police mentioned Naresh’s movements in the days leading up to Mamta’s disappearance.
They said that on July 30, he traveled to a Chantilly Walmart, about 12 miles north of the couple’s home.
As of August 28, two of those knives have not been accounted for.
Naresh also returned to the Chantilly Walmart on July 31, where he purchased cleaning supplies.
Prosecutors are accusing Naresh of murdering his wife and concealing her body.
Because Mamta’s body has yet to be found, he is currently facing a class six felony charge in connection with concealing a dead body.
During Monday’s bond hearing, the judge denied Naresh’s release , and ordered him to remain in jail without bond, citing that he posed a significant flight risk.
Naresh has a preliminary hearing scheduled for October 24.
Mamta Kafle Bhatt and her husband Naresh Bhatt Facebook/Mamta Kafle Bhatt An aerial view of Mamta Kafle Bhatt and Naresh Bhatt’s home in Manassas Park, Virginia Fox 5 Officers walking Naresh Bhatt out of his house in handcuffs on August 22, 2024 NBC4
MISSING MAMTA
Mamta was last seen at the UVA Health Prince William Medical Center on July 27.
Police also confirmed that she had spoken to a friend on the phone the following day.
On July 28, Mamta posted a video of her baby crawling up the stairs to her TikTok account.
Friends and family members say the last time they remember speaking with Mamta was on July 30.
However, when she failed to show up for her scheduled work shifts on August 1 and 2, concerned coworkers contacted the police.
When police conducted a welfare check, Naresh told them that his wife wasn’t missing.
Instead, he said that he had last seen Mamta on July 31 and that she was currently visiting family in Texas or New York .
Weeks later, and days before his arrest, Naresh admitted that he was the one “suffering” as a result of Mamta’s disappearance.
“I’m really tired. Tired, exhausted – physically, mentally, economically. I’m suffering,” he told Fox affiliate WTTG .
“I’m suffering a lot,” he added.
The couple’s daughter, Neema, 1, is currently being cared for by an “approved caregiver” according to both the Department of Social Services and the Manassas Park Police Department.
“We want the same thing — justice for Mamta,” he said.
“We want to figure out what happened and hold whoever is responsible accountable,” he added.
Naresh Bhatt speaks to a reporter at his home on August 14, 2024 WUSA 9 Mamta Kafle Bhatt has been missing for nearly a month Facebook / Find Mamta Kafle Bhatt Naresh Bhatt tells a reporter he has been ‘suffering’ during an interview at his home on August 14, 2024 WUSA 9
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
