MANASSAS PARK, Va. — More than a month after she disappeared from her Manassas Park home, police were back in the community Thursday searching for additional evidence in the case of Mamta Kafle Bhatt. Investigators searched the area surrounding Manassas Christian School, Camp Carondelet and a portion of Blooms Park.
According to the school's website, the school itself has moved locations. The building appears to be vacant.
Manassas Park Police said detectives developed the areas as "locations of interest" through methodical review of recently obtained records. Police said no additional evidence was found Thursday, but the scene was still very active.
Investigators urged anyone who may know of Mamta Kafle Bhatt's whereabouts to contact them at 703-361-1136. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Manassas Park Crime Solvers at 703-330-0330.
According to court documents, investigators believe Naresh Bhatt killed his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, in late July and dragged her body outside their Manassas Park home. Though police have never confirmed that Mamta is dead and have not charged Naresh with murder. He's facing a lone charge of concealing a body.
The 37-year-old man was arrested by Manassas Park Police and he's being held without bond. Prosecutors have not presented evidence to charge Naresh Bhatt with murder, and he has not confessed to the killing of his wife.
Naresh Bhatt's public defender waived his right to a grand jury Thursday in an effort to get this case before a jury sooner.
Throughout the proceedings the defense has argued that the Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office is missing the primary evidence-Mamta's body.
Prosecutors say they are planning for a six-day jury trial.
The defense wants to start the trial sometime in December or early January. Prosecutors want more time and have requested a late January or early February date.
After a long back-and-forth, they failed to come to an agreement, which means they'll be back in court with Naresh Bhatt on Sept. 16.
Mamta's loved ones say searches like the ones being conducted Thursday are giving them hope that they'll get justice.
"I have no doubt that the commonwealth is putting together a very strong case," said Holly Wirth, Mamta's former colleague. "I think there is wealth of evidence that's already been connected by Prince William by the crime lab. Manassas Park Police department are processing that evidence, it's going to take time. Mr. Bhatt thinks he's smart, but I guarantee you the weight of justice is leaning hard on him and I we are going to see this come to fruition."
For the first time, Mamta's mother and brother were in court Thursday after arriving from Nepal last week.
It's their first time seeing Naresh Bhatt in person since Mamta went missing.
They did not want to speak on camera, but through a spokesperson they said they are appreciative of the work that prosecutors are doing in this case.
Another search warrant was executed on the couple's home late last month, according to Police Chief Mario Lugo. He would not comment on what evidence they were looking for at that time.
The couple has been married for more than three years and in the last year the couple moved to their Manassas Park home with their now 1-year-old daughter.
Naresh Bhatt was an automated logistics specialist (92A) in the Army Reserve from June 2017 to February 2024. He has no deployments and left the Army in the rank of specialist, according to an Army Public Affairs spokesperson.
The court appointed public defender representing Naresh Bhatt said during his bond hearing that he is a U.S. Citizen with a security clearance. Previously the defense argued that he should not remain in custody because he has no criminal record for violence or domestic abuse.
In June of 2020, Naresh Bhatt was by Fairfax County Police and in October of 2020 he transitioned to police recruit but was dismissed 22 days later for unsuccessfully fulfilling the requirements of his role police told WUSA9.
Prosecutors say that throughout the police investigation Naresh Bhatt provided detectives with conflicting stories about his wife.
During an Aug. 2 welfare check conducted at the Bhatt residence at the request of Mamta's colleagues, Naresh allegedly told police that he was in the process of separating with his wife. Prosecutors say he told officers that Mamta was either in New York or Texas visiting family, but they allege that the 28-year-old nurse has no biological family in the U.S. He also allegedly told police that Mamta had destroyed her phone before leaving.
Prosecutors say that Naresh Bhatt first told police that the last time he had seen his wife was the night of July 31, but later said it was the morning of Aug. 1. The public defender argued that the dates are conflicting because of the time frame in question.
Naresh Bhatt says it was not uncommon for Mamta to not come home. He said she has left for extended periods of time at least three times prior.
Naresh Bhatt told WUSA9's Katie Lusso, that a Manassas Park detective told him to look for his wife and to give police a call when he got tired of searching for her.
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The public defender says Naresh Bhatt reached out to the same detective on Aug. 4 via text, but that the officer did not respond until the following day.
Manassas Park Police say that on Aug. 5 Naresh Bhatt reported his wife as missing.
On Aug. 7, Naresh posted on Facebook that his wife had been missing. He asked people to contact the nearest police department. "I appreciate your unconditional support and hope to get help down the road in future days," he wrote.
On Aug. 12, WUSA9 spoke to Naresh Bhatt outside the Manassas Park Police Department after he had been interrogated for hours. He refused to speak on camera, but during the recorded conversation he said he did not want to speak about the timeline of events and said, "I am suffering from a lot."
On Aug. 14 Naresh Bhatt addressed a concerned and angry crowd outside the Manassas Park Police Department who questioned his lack of answers following his wife's deaths. "Thank you for, like, what you are doing and in a positive way," Naresh Bhatt told the crowd.
Hours later, Naresh Bhatt told WUSA9's Katie Lusso that the couple ate dinner together and were taking care of their daughter the last time he saw her. "We are on the evening of Wednesday. She was the one who cooked and do the kitchen stuff. We do not have any specific conversation, We do not have any argument or something like that," he added.
Naresh Bhatt was not seen in the community searches conducted for his wife during the days that followed her disappearance.
Manassas Park Police initially reported that Naresh Bhatt had been cooperative during the investigation, but on Aug. 21, Police Chief Mario Lugo called him a person of interest during a late night news conference. "He's been a point of interest and everyone knows that," Lugo said.
On Aug. 22, Naresh Bhatt was escorted out of his home in handcuffs and processed at the Prince William County Adult Detention Center on the charge of concealing a body.
Prosecutors said during his arraignment that Naresh Bhatt had sold his Tesla on Aug. 19 and had attempted to sell his home to two people prior to his arrest.
His defense says Naresh Bhatt sold his car and attempted to sell his residence because he had financial issues. Naresh Bhatt had to pay $1,200 in car payments and $6,000 for his mortgage, according to the public defender. He also added that the father was dedicated to taking care of his daughter and was not allowed to return to work following the disappearance of his wife.
On July 30, prosecutors say Naresh Bhatt traveled to a Walmart in Chantilly to purchase three knives, two of which are unaccounted for.
The following day he was captured on surveillance video at a different Walmart purchasing cleaning supplies according to prosecutors.
Prince William County Judge Lisa M. Baird said that Naresh Bhatt should remain in custody without bond because she considers there is substantial evidence that he is a threat to the community and at risk of flight.
During the bond hearing, prosecutors said that the U.S. Secret Service had offered up evidence that agency believed was pertinent in the case against Naresh Bhatt. According to prosecutors, in April, Naresh Bhatt allegedly used his work laptop to search, "How long does it take to get married after spouse die" and "What happen to debt died spouse."
He is scheduled to be in court Thursday morning. According to court records, Bhatt is expected to waive his right to a grand jury. His defense attorney filed a motion Tuesday asking to waive the grand jury.
A judge decided last week to waive Naresh Bhatt's preliminary hearing for the single felony count he's facing for concealing a dead body. Throughout the proceedings, Bhatt's defense attorney has insisted that the evidence presented by prosecutors is weak, particularly because Naresh Bhatt is facing a single charge of concealing a dead body, and Mamta's body has not been found.
Lawyers WUSA9 spoke with say Naresh Bhatt's public defender is trying to speed up this case so it heads to trial quicker. The hearing was scheduled for Oct. 24. In it, prosecutors would lay out all the evidence that they have against Naresh Bhatt.
"Time is of the essence, and I think the public defender was really smart to try to speed things up," Virginia-based lawyer Pierre Priale told WUSA9.
If a judge grants the request to waive the grand jury hearing Thursday, the case would go directly to trial. Legal analysts say the odds are stacked against the prosecution, so the faster a case moves, the more pressure law enforcement is under to find additional evidence.