MANASSAS PARK, Va. — Prince William County prosecutors say that months before a Manassas Park mother went missing, she made allegations of domestic violence against her husband.
During a Monday bond hearing, prosecutors said that in February Mamta Kafle Bhatt told police that her husband Naresh Bhatt refused to hand over her documents including her passport and that he had destroyed her phone.
Friends and colleagues reference this time as a difficult period for the 28-year-old nurse. Some say they saw her with bruises and that she had reached out to them for help navigating marital issues between her and Naresh Bhatt, 37.
"Mamta was being abused. Mamta cried for help. Mamta was hurt in a significant way by Naresh Bhatt," Holly Wirth told WUSA9 outside of the Prince William County court after Naresh Bhatt's bond was denied.
Naresh Bhatt is facing a single count for concealing a dead body. He has never been charged for domestic violence or for committing a violent crime.
Prince William County community members shared their concerns about domestic abuse during a Manassas Park City meeting held on Wednesday. One man calling Mamta's case a "painful reminder" that more needs to be done to protect those who are at risk.
Mamta's friend and former roommate who has been conducting community search efforts for weeks told elected officials during the meeting, "Unfortunately, she was not aware of the resources available to her. If she had been more aware, if that was presented to her, things might be different."
Stan Jones, the CEO for the nonprofit ACTION in Community Through Services (ACTS) says his organization has been keeping a close eye on this case.
"The case of Mamta Kafle Bhatt has indeed highlighted the critical need for accessible resources for individuals facing domestic violence. At ACTS, we are committed to providing comprehensive support to those in our community experiencing such crises," Jones said in a statement to WUSA9.
Elisa Castillo who leads the services for domestic violence for ACTS said that when they first heard about Mamta's case, she called an emergency meeting. "I literally contacted all my staff at court, the safe house, even here admin, and I said please let me know if you worked with this client."
Castillo says that after reviewing through all their cases, they determined Mamta never reached out to ACTS. "I wish she would have reached out but she never did," she added.
In her 19 years of experience in the field, Castillo said often people experiencing domestic violence or abuse don't even know how to identify it.
"Once my specialist sits with them, they find out there is abuse in the home, daycare issues, they are about to be evicted, there's so much going on. They don't just come with one problem, but they come with multiple problems," she added.
Jones says ACTS is the only nonprofit in that offers a wide range of services in Prince William County, the City of Manassas, Manassas Park and Dumfries including:
- 24/7 Crisis Helpline: Our crisis helpline is available around the clock to provide immediate assistance, guidance, and support to those in need. Trained professionals are always ready to listen and offer help.
- Emergency Shelter: For individuals and families in immediate danger, we provide safe emergency housing. Our shelters offer a secure environment where survivors can begin to rebuild their lives away from the threat of violence.
- Counseling Services: ACTS offers both individual and group counseling for survivors of domestic violence. Our counselors are trained to help clients process their experiences, develop coping strategies, and plan for their future.
- Legal Advocacy: We assist survivors in navigating the legal system, including obtaining protective orders, understanding their rights, and accessing legal representation when needed.
- Community Education: ACTS also focuses on raising awareness and educating the community about domestic violence. We believe that prevention and early intervention are key to ending the cycle of abuse.
Castillo says the best advice she has for people wondering how they can help someone experiencing domestic violence and abuse is, "Talk to that person, that to that survivor, and say hey there is help, it doesn't hurt to make that phone call."
ACTS 24-hour hotline for domestic abuse is (703) 221-4925.
For help outside of Prince William County, you can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233.