MANASSAS PARK, Va. — Three weeks after Mamta Kafle Bhatt was reported missing, investigators took her husband into custody Thursday morning. Police confirmed Naresh Bhatt was a person of interest in her disappearance on Wednesday night.
WUSA9 was on the scene at Naresh Bhatt's home Thursday when police were seen escorting him into a police car in handcuffs.
In a dramatic and chaotic news conference outside the home Thursday, officials said they could not confirm that Mamta was dead, but since then, WUSA9 has learned her husband Naresh is facing charges of concealing a body.
Mamta Kafle Batt, a 28-year-old Manassas Park mother, was considered to be missing under "involuntary circumstance" after she disappeared on July 31.
Manassas Park Police confirmed to WUSA9 that a search warrant was executed at her home Wednesday evening.
Several hours later, Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo gave the first press conference the department has held since Mamta Kafle Bhatt disappeared. While Manassas Park Mayor Janette Rishell, Councilmember Mike Carrera, and Del. Michelle Maldonado were also in attendance, Lugo was the only official who spoke.
The police chief started the press conference by thanking the community, both locally and internationally, for the outpouring of compassion on the missing woman's behalf.
"While I acknowledge and respect the public's concerns for answers, I assure each of you that although these answers are limited by this continuing to be an active investigation and process this investigation remains a top priority for the police department," Lugo said.
Lugo continued to explain that the police department has conducted hundreds of interviews and executed 10 search warrants related to the disappearance of Mamta Kafle Bhatt.
The police chief tried to leave shortly after the press conference began, but returned to the podium after a crowd of community members and reporters began yelling "That's it?"
"Look, the search warrant is going to take another three to four hours to complete," said Lugo upon returning to the podium. "When I get the information, I will provide that."
WUSA9's Matthew Torres asked the police chief if there was a person of interest in Mamta Kafle Bhatt's disappearance.
"He is a person of interest," said Lugo.
"The husband?" Matthew Torres asked.
"Yes," Lugo confirmed. "He's been a point of interest and everybody knows that."
Matthew Torres then asked if Mamta Kafle Bhatt's husband, Naresh Bhatt, is cooperating with the investigation.
"No, the husband's not cooperating," Lugo replied.
Mamta Kafle Bhatt's disappearance made headlines as friends and complete strangers came together to try to find her. The community has been open about frustrations with Manassas Park Police as the agency has been tight-lipped about the investigation.
On Aug. 15 Manassas Park Police wrote in a social media post that they requested assistance from Virginia State Police and all other U.S. policing agencies to assist in the search for Bhatt.
They also shared this timeline:
- July 27: Mamta Kafle Bhatt was last seen at UVA Health Health Prince William Medical Center
- July 28: Mamta Kafle Bhatt spoke to a friend
- July 31: Mamta Kafle Bhatt is last seen by her husband
Other than that update, the police department hasn't shared much info about the investigation with WUSA9 or the community.
The last person to see Mamta was her husband, Naresh Bhatt. While Mamta disappeared on July 31, he did not report her missing until days later.
Police Chief Mario Lugo confirmed to WUSA9 that on Aug. 2, his officers responded to Mamta's home following concerns from her colleagues at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Naresh reported his wife missing on Aug. 5, according to authorities.
Naresh Bhatt told WUSA9 that this wasn't the first time Mamta has gone missing, referencing three other disappearances.
"At that time, she has some demands so that's why she just step out and stay with a couple times with her friends and one time she moved to Falls Church, to someone, I don't know the name but she has an apartment," said Naresh Bhatt.
He said she's never been gone this long before.
"I am suffering through a lot," Naresh told WUSA9.
Naresh was arrested on Thursday morning at the family home in Manassas Park. He's facing charges of concealing a body. No one has confirmed that Mamta is dead nor have they released information as to what evidence points to Naresh.
Mamta's daughter, a toddler, is now in the care of Department of Social Services.
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Friends say Mamta never showed up to work for her Aug. 1 shift at UVA Health Health Prince William Medical Center. Her former roommate Nadia Navarro took to Facebook to start a group dedicated to sharing information and hoping to help find her friend.
"Mamta is not an impulsive person, she's a very responsible person, she's a very calm person. So to hear, that she might be missing, I really doubt she would run away," Navarro added.
She further explained that she has a very difficult time believing that the first-time mother would leave her 10-month-old daughter.
Up to this point, community members have rallied outside the police department asking for answers. Some have also organized searches on their own. But still, nearly three weeks later, Bhatt is nowhere to be found.