A Virginia police department provided a hopeful update in the search for Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s presumably dead body as her husband is pushing for a swift trial.
The Manassas Park Police Department announced Tuesday that it continues to receive tips and leads about Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s disappearance July 31. The pediatric nurse‘s husband, Naresh Bhatt, was arrested on August 22 at the couple’s Manassas Park home and charged with one felony count of concealing a dead body.
“We recently had an individual come forward with information that was helpful in the case,” the Manassas Park Police Department said in a Facebook post Tuesday. “We are seeking individuals that have not been interviewed or contacted by detectives already.”
As Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s presumably dead body has yet to be found, Naresh Bhatt’s defense claimed last week that the prosecution lacks sufficient evidence to prove his guilt and has filed a motion requesting the court to compel the prosecutors to produce evidence that might exonerate him.
Before her disappearance, officers conducted a wellness check for Mamta Bhatt at the couple’s home on August 2 and spoke to Naresh Bhatt, who did not want to report her missing at that time. Naresh Bhatt formally reported her missing to police on August 5.
Since then, police have executed search warrants on the couple’s home and found evidence of pooled blood in the master bedroom and blood spatter in the master bathroom. Investigators also found signs suggesting a body had been dragged through the house. Multiple local news outlets reported watching investigators load large rolls of carpet into a Prince William County police van.
Senior assistant public defender Shalev Ben-Avraham has been working to expedite the legal process since Naresh Bhatt’s arrest over two weeks ago. Naresh Bhatt has waived both his preliminary hearing and the grand jury indictment to accelerate the proceedings. As Naresh Bhatt remains in jail awaiting trial, Virginia’s speedy trial law requires the prosecution to bring the case to trial within five months.
“The Commonwealth has … continued to press forward with the charge against Mr. Bhatt, despite admissions that they are not sure that Mamta Bhatt is deceased, as they continue to investigate a case they are unable to prove,” the motion reportedly states, according to the Prince William Times. “It is why they are attempting to delay this trial for as long as possible.”
The motion cites a statement made by Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth to the media following Naresh Bhatt’s where she admitted to being uncertain about whether Mamta Kafle Bhatt was alive or dead. Ashworth has stayed mum on this case since then.
Naresh Bhatt is due back in court on September 16 as prosecutors and the defense attempt to agree on a start date for the trial. Prosecutors say the defense is missing the key piece of evidence: Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s body.
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.
About The Couple
Both Mamta Kafle Bhatt and Naresh Bhatt, who have been married for three years, are originally from Nepal. Naresh Bhatt is a US Army veteran whose Facebook boasts many photos of him in his uniform and posing with guns.
Before her disapperance, Mamta Kafle Bhatt worked as a pediatric nurse at the UVA Health Prince William Medical Center. She previously worked as a nurse at the Inova Fairfax Medical Campus.
The couple share a 1-year-old daughter.
Nearly a month after Mamta’s disappearance, her mother and brother finally arrived in the United States from Nepal at the end of August.
“We would like to let everyone know that Mamta’s mom and brother has been reunited with Mini Mamta,” Bandita Sharma-Dahal, Esq., the family’s immigration attorney told WUSA9, giving Mamta’s daughter a nickname for privacy purposes.
“We request community and media to give them privacy. They will speak up when they feel comfortable. We will not be disclosing their location at this time. They are dealing with unimaginable pain so please be kind to them.”
For now, “Mini Mamta” will remain with her mother’s family. However, this could change since Mamta’s family are Nepalese citizens, while the baby is a US citizen.
“That’s still a big question. We still need to talk about it. We are at the very early phase right now,” Sharma-Dahal told the outlet. “We are yet to have that discussion because right now, although Naresh is in custody, he is still the father of the child.”
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Mamta Kafle or this case is asked to contact the Manassas Park Police Department at 703-361-1136. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to the Manassas City/Manassas Park Crime Solvers, at 703-330-0330 or manassascrimesolvers.org.
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