2024-08-23 21:10:02
MANASSAS PARK, Va. (7News) — Missing Virginia mother Mamta Kafle Bhatt is presumed dead, Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo confirmed Thursday, as authorities continue investigating her disappearance and hope to find her.
Her husband, Naresh Bhatt, wascharged Thursday with Prohibition Against Concealment of a Dead Body in connection to her disappearance.
According to the Library of Congress, the Prohibition Against Concealment of a Dead Body is a felony charge given to “any person who transports, secretes, conceals or alters a dead body, as defined in 32.1-249, with malicious intent and to prevent detection of an unlawful act or to prevent the detection of the death or the manner or cause of death.”
Police provided an updated timeline Thursday, saying Mamta, 28, was last seen on July 28 and the last known contact was July 29. Naresh told police he saw her laston July 31.
Authorities conducted a welfare check on Aug. 2 following a request from her employer. Naresh reported her missing three days later on Aug. 5.
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Police said additional investigative leads may lead to further charges against Naresh. He is being held without bond pending his arraignment Friday morning in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.
Earlier Thursday, Amy Ashworth, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Prince William County, told 7News that authorities “don’t know” ifMamta is alive. But Manassas Park Police Department Chief Mario Lugo told 7News she is presumed dead at this point. The department hopes to locate her and will continue to investigate her disappearance.
On Thursday morning, 7News cameras captured Naresh as he was put into handcuffs and placed inside a police cruiser. This follows the execution of a search warrant at the couple’s home on Wednesday after Mamta was missing for three weeks.
Mamta’s daughter, covered by a blanket, was taken out of the home by authorities Thursday morning following his arrest. The little girl is safe and has been placed in the care of the Department of Social Services, police said.
Mamta’s mother, who lives in Nepal, is working to get an emergency visa to come and try to get emergency custody of her granddaughter, said Bandita Sharma Dhal, her immigration attorney.
“Right now her only intention is to come here, grab that baby, hold that baby tight,” Dhal said. “Request the U.S. embassy in Nepal to expedite [her visa] because that baby needs someone to take care of her. Especially that would be nice to have Mamta’s mother.”
During a Wednesday night press conference, Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo stated that the department pursued numerous leads and conducted over 10 search warrants related to the case, including the one executed at the couple’s residence on Wednesday. Police also conducted hundreds of interviews in connection with the case.
Chief Lugo also revealed that Naresh Bhatt was not cooperating with the police and had been identified as a person of interest.
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TIMELINE OF MAMTA’S DISAPPEARANCE:
July 27: Mamta was last seen at the UVA Health Prince William Medical Center
July 28: Mamta spoke to a friend
July 31: Naresh last saw Mamta
Aug. 2: Police responded to a welfare check at Mamta’s residence and spoke to her husband, who did not want to report her as missing at that time
Aug. 5: Naresh officially reported Mamta as missing to the police
Aug. 5-8: Detectives conducted an “extensive” investigation into the disappearance
Aug. 21: Police serve a search warrant at Mamta’s home and name Naresh as a person of interest and said he’s notcooperating with police
Aug. 22:Naresh was put into cuffs and taken into custody by MPPD
Since Mamta’s disappearance, the community has shown strong support, with residents from Manassas Park and beyond coming together to aid in the search efforts as the MPPD continues its investigation.
“I feel terrible for the baby and the mother. I feel sick to my stomach. It’s devastating to have it be someone you live close to,” neighbor Ivy Freeman told 7News.
On Thursday night, members of the community started a growing memorial outside of Mamta’s home in her honor.
