FAIRFAX, Va. — The husband of a missing Manassas Park mother was arrested on Thursday, just over three weeks after she disappeared. Now, WUSA9 has learned Naresh Bhatt was a Fairfax County Police recruit for a short time in 2020.
Investigators say Naresh Bhatt was the last person to see his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, before she disappeared on July 31. He did not report her missing until five days later.
Three weeks after the disappearance, police executed a search warrant at the Bhatt home in Manassas Park. That night, Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo said Naresh was a person of interest in his wife's case. Less than 24 hours later, Naresh Bhatt was arrested and charged with concealing a body.
But police have yet to confirm whether Mamta is alive or dead.
On the day of his arrest, Fairfax County Police confirmed to WUSA that Naresh was hired as a police recruit in 2020 — only to be later dismissed 22 days into the Criminal Justice Academy.
In a statement, Fairfax County Police said he "was unsuccessful in fulfilling the requirements of his role and was subsequently dismissed from the Department."
Naresh and Mamta's daughter, a toddler, is now in the care of the Department of Social Services.