A Virginia man has been detained on suspicion of hiding a deceased body, nearly a month after his wife went missing, authorities announced on Thursday. Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Luge confirmed that Naresh Bhatt has been charged with the felony of concealing a dead body.
His wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, 28, was last seen working as a pediatric nurse on July 27, and an extensive search for her has been ongoing. Meanwhile, their infant daughter, who recently turned one, has been placed under the care of the Department of Social Services.
Naresh Bhatt was charged with a felony in connection with the disappearance of his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt
While authorities have not confirmed the discovery of a body, they have stated that Bhatt is under suspicion for possibly hiding one. The police emphasized that the arrest was linked to Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s disappearance. The statement from the Manassas Park Police Department noted ongoing efforts to find Kafle and suggested that further investigative leads could lead to additional charges.
Bhatt is currently held without bond and is scheduled to appear in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on Friday morning. Authorities previously noted that Bhatt claimed he last saw his wife on July 31. Kafle’s colleagues reported her missing when she did not show up for work on August 2. Although police visited the family home and spoke to Bhatt, she was not reported missing until August 8. Her credit cards and phone have shown no activity since her disappearance.
On Thursday, friends and family gathered for a candlelit vigil outside the Kafles’ residence, with many attendees coming from Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s native Nepal. The local community and Kafle’s co-workers have organized several search efforts. A GoFundMe campaign to support the search has raised nearly $14,000.
