The search for Virginia mother Mamta Bhatt continues, and police say they suspect foul play at the hands of her husband.
Police said Mamta’s husband, Naresh Bhatt, likely murdered her in their Manassas Park home, according to a criminal complaint. He’s now charged with a felony concealing a body.
Fox 5 reports that Bhatt waived his preliminary hearing rights during a court appearance on Thursday morning. The court referred the case to a grand jury, which will decide if there’s enough evidence for an indictment, court records indicate.
Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo told reporters on Tuesday that while he wishes he could remain hopeful, he no longer believes Mamta is alive.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, authorities executed a search warrant at the couple’s home earlier this month, after Naresh Bhatt reported her missing on August 5. During the search, police discovered evidence of a body being dragged and large amounts of blood, according to court documents.
Manassas Park Police officer C. Ventura reported that investigators also found digital and forensic evidence, leading police to believe that Naresh Bhatt murdered Mamta and attempted to cover it up.
Investigators said they found blood primarily in the main bedroom and the adjoining bathroom, and are still awaiting test results to determine if the blood is that of Mamta Bhatt.
Naresh Bhatt provided an inaccurate timeline to the police and kept changing his story after reporting his wife missing, prosecutors said. He told WUSA9 and police that he last saw his wife on July 31, but court documents indicated that she may have died on July 30.
Prosecutors stated that on July 30, the defendant purchased three knives, two of which remain unaccounted for. Detectives have security video evidence showing Bhatt buying cleaning supplies the following day, according to court documents.
The defendant also allegedly sold his Tesla the week of his arrest and attempted to sell his home. When investigators were at the house, they found that he had packed up, with both his and his young daughter’s passports in plain sight.
Prosecutors added that Bhatt said his wife destroyed her phone before disappearing, but the phone continued to work until it died on August 1. The last cell tower connection from her phone was in Loudoun County. Bhatt allegedly told police he was at a cafe in Loudoun County around the time the phone pinged.
Meanwhile, Mamta’s former colleagues said Mamta’s mother and brother have traveled to the U.S. to help with the couple’s infant daughter.
“They are in a tremendous amount of pain. Where their joy comes from right now is being reunited with their granddaughter,” nurse Holly Wirth told Fox 5.
Wirth, who has been attending the court hearings, described Naresh as a “master manipulator,” while describing Mamta as “loving wife, a loving mother, a very proud, registered nurse, and a very good friend.”
Anyone with information should contact Manassas Park Police.
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[Feature Photo: Mamta Kafle Bhatt/Facebook]
