MANASSAS PARK, Va. β It has now been more than two weeks since Mamta Kafle Bhatt was last seen.
Manassas Park Police say the 28-year-old mother is considered to be missing under "involuntary circumstance" after she disappeared on July 31. She has not been seen yet.
"I'm still hopeful. I still believe in miracles," said Nadia Navarro.
Navarro says her friend is a mother to a little girl and a nurse at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center.
She told WUSA9 Friday night that she is holding out hope that her friend is okay.
"I really do think that Mamta is out there," she said.
She says they are not giving up. They organized a search Thursday at Blooms Park Trail, a spot where Mamta liked to go walking.
"We're her family now. Most of the people out here, we have over 60 people and none of them know who she is," said Jennifer Cooper, one of the volunteers.
They split up into groups and searched the densely wooded area.
"We're looking for hair, scrunchies, scarves, she really liked orange and green. Those were some of her favorite colors," explained Navarro.
The latest update from Manassas Park Police came on Thursday, just hours before the community organized a search. They wrote in a post on social media that they have requested assistance from Virginia State Police and all other U.S. Police agencies to assist in the search for Mamta.
Additionally, police provided more details in the scant timeline of events prior to Mamta's disappearance.
- July 27: Mamta was last seen at UVA Health Health Prince William Medical Center
- July 28: Mamta spoke to a friend
- July 31: Mamta is last seen by her husband
Navarro told WUSA9 that she is the friend who spoke to Mamta on July 28. She said they were texting.
"So she really wanted me to come over and that's something I'm still confused about," said Navarro.
She also says Mamta called her twice, but she was asleep and missed the calls.
As for Mamta's husband, Naresh Bhatt, police say he's the last person who saw her. He spoke with WUSA9 on Wednesday.
"We ate 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," Naresh Bhatt.
>Watch WUSA's full interview with Naresh Bhatt below:
Manassas Park Police say they conducted a welfare check at the home of a 28-year-old mother three days before she was reported missing by her husband.
"On the day she did not come back. Usually, once she left, she came back. She did not come back and I just searched around. The next day, police came and police told me she was not at work and I was very serious because she's the one who would never leave her work," he said.
He told WUSA9 he started talking to the officers about how it was not the first time she had gone missing.
"I started talking to police and they say you've got to search around because it is not the first time, it happens before, maybe she's hanging with someone, a close friend or family. That's what I did, but I could not find her and then I say that to the police officer and he say I can file a complaint and I filed a complaint according to that," said Bhatt.
That was on August 5.
Since then police have remained tightlipped about their investigation. Friday afternoon, Manassas Park Mayor Jeanette Rishell shared the following statement with WUSA9:
"The entire city stands with Mamta and her family, and the entire city prays for her safe return," Rishell said. "Please know that our police department has been working very hard on this disappearance and they are doing everything possible. Not everything can be shared, because in any investigation, that might compromise the investigation itself. I ask everyone to please allow the police investigation to continue to its conclusion. The process honors Mamta just as we all honor her and pray for her safe return."
Over the weekend, Navarro launched a Facebook group dedicated to sharing information about Bhatt's case. She has also created an Instagram account and an account on X, formerly known as Twitter.
She says seeing the community rally together the way they have for her friend, gives her hope.
"There are good people in the world that's how we can still function as a society and it gives me hope and reassurance. I'm so happy that so many people are as worried for Mamta as I am," said Navarro.
She has organized a search at Bloom Trails Park for 9 a.m. on Saturday.
There is also a Community Demonstration scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m.- noon at the intersection of Manassas Drive and Centreville Road in Manassas Park.
Manassas Park Police is asking anyone with information to contact them at (703) 361-1136.