Naresh Bhatt, the husband of missing Nepali nurse Mamta Kafle from Manassas Park, Virginia, has been arrested on a felony charge of Prohibition Against Concealment of a Dead Body, in violation of Section 18.2-323.02 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended.
The arrest was announced earlier Thursday by Amy Ashworth, the elected Commonwealth’s Attorney for Prince William County and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, along with Chief Mario Lugo of the Manassas Park Police Department. Bhatt is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The Manassas Park Police Department Detectives have been actively investigating the disappearance of 28-year-old Mamta Kafle, who was last seen on July 27, 2024. On August 21, 2024, detectives executed a search warrant at Bhatt’s residence, with assistance from the Prince William County Police Department Forensic Unit. During the search, detectives obtained additional evidence, leading to Bhatt’s arrest in connection with her disappearance.
Bhatt was taken into custody on Thursday morning at approximately 10:45 AM, after a thorough investigation led authorities to his home. He is currently being held without bond, pending his arraignment tomorrow morning in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. The exact nature of the evidence found during the search has not been disclosed, and the investigation remains ongoing.
As part of the operation, Bhatt’s one-year-old daughter, who had recently celebrated her birthday, was placed in the care of the Department of Social Services. The child is safe and is being cared for by an appropriate caregiver approved by the Department of Social Services and the Manassas Park Police Department.
Mamta Kafle’s condition remains unknown as of 11 PM on Thursday. The registered nurse was last seen at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center on July 27, and her last known contact with anyone was on July 28. She was reportedly last seen by her husband on July 31. Authorities had previously revealed that Kafle had reduced contact with her family, friends, and employers in the days leading up to her disappearance, leading them to classify her case as an involuntary and serious missing person.
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Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
