Husband Identified as Person of Interest, Not Cooperating in Investigation of Missing Nepali Nurse Mamta Kafle, Police Say

The Manassas Park Police are intensifying their investigation into the disappearance of Nepali nurse Mamta Kafle, who went missing from Manassas Park, Virginia. Authorities have identified her husband, Naresh Bhatt, as a person of interest and noted that he has not cooperated with the investigation.

The police began searching Bhatt’s residence on Wednesday evening, around 5 PM, with yellow tape cordoning off the area and more than 10 police vehicles parked outside. The search is expected to continue for several more hours, according to Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo, who held a press conference this evening.

At a press conference held during the search, police emphasized that the investigation is a top priority and shared that 10 search warrants have been executed, and hundreds of interviews have been conducted so far. However, they refrained from answering many questions from the media and community, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. They did assure the public that any new information discovered during the search would be made public, with a detailed update expected by tomorrow.

Police officers first visited Bhatt’s home on August 2, following Mamta’s disappearance on July 31, but Bhatt declined to report her missing at that time. It was only on August 5 that Bhatt informed the police of her disappearance. Initially, Mamta did not meet the criteria for a missing person according to Virginia State Police standards, but she was later entered into the statewide missing persons registry.

Investigators found that Mamta had reduced contact with her family, friends, and employers, and her social media activity had diminished in the days leading up to her disappearance. Considering these factors, authorities have now classified her case as an involuntary and serious missing person and have allocated additional resources to the investigation.

Mamta Kafle, 28, was last seen at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center on July 27 and spoke with a friend on July 28. She was last seen by her husband on July 31. Mamta is described as 5 feet tall, weighing 132 pounds, with black hair and dark brown eyes. She is a registered nurse working in Virginia.

The police are urging anyone with information on Mamta’s whereabouts to contact them at 703-361-1136 or anonymously at 703-330-0330. A non-profit organization has also offered a $5,000 reward for any information that could help locate Mamta. The Nepali community in America is expressing hopes on social media that Mamta will be found safe.