KATHMANDU, AUGUST 26
The Nepali-American nurse who has been missing for nearly a month in Virginia, USA, is likely no longer alive, according to the Manassas Park Police. Mamta Kafle Bhatt, 28, a pediatric nurse at UVA Prince William Medical Center in Manassas, was last seen on July 27.
Her husband, Naresh Bhatt, 37, a U.S. Army veteran, was arrested last Thursday on suspicion of concealing a dead body, further deepening concerns over her fate.
According to the Prince William Times, the Manassas Park Police held a closed-door community meeting on Thursday afternoon with Mamta Bhatt's close friends and members of the local Nepali community where Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo shared that while her body has not yet been found, there is "no indication that she is still alive." The meeting, which took place on Thursday afternoon, was attended by around 40 people and came just hours after Naresh Bhatt's arrest.
Mamta was first reported missing on August 2 by her co-workers after she failed to show up for work. Naresh Bhatt initially claimed he last saw his wife on July 31 but did not report her missing. Mamta was officially declared missing on August 8, and since her disappearance, there has been no activity on her credit cards or phone.
Further investigation revealed that Naresh Bhatt was in the process of packing up his home and selling his car. Police also noted that passports for both Bhatt and his infant daughter were in plain sight during a search of the home.
Evidence uncovered during the investigation of the house also raised alarms. Police discovered pooling blood and blood splatter in the primary bedroom of the Bhatt residence. Additionally, there were signs that a body had been dragged. Despite these findings, Mamta's body remains unaccounted for.
Following his arrest, the couple's week-old daughter has been placed under the care of the Department of Social Services.
"The child is safe and being cared for by an appropriate caregiver approved by the Department of Social Services and Manassas Park Police Department," stated a joint news release by Chief Mario Lugo and Commonwealth's Attorney Amy Ashworth.
Naresh Bhatt has been charged with one felony count of prohibition against the concealment of a dead body. The Manassas Park Police Department continues to investigate the disappearance of Mamta Kafle Bhatt and hopes to locate her, the Prince williams Times reported.
