Searches For Mamta Kafle Bhatt Continue, Husband To Have Trial Without Jury

MANASSAS PARK, VA — With missing mom Mamta Kafle Bhatt presumed dead and her husband facing a trial, Manassas Park Police searched for her remains at several locations Thursday.

The search, with assistance from Prince William County Police search and rescue, is being done in the Blooms Crossing community, the area around Manassas Christian School, Camp Carondelet and part of Blooms Park around Manassas Park. Police say no evidence has been found and asked for patience from the community while the searches are being done.

Police previously searched Signal Hill Park in Manassas Park on Aug. 30 and have been following up on leads since receiving hundreds of tips.

Meanwhile, a judge in Prince William County court granted Mamta Kafle Bhatt's husband, Naresh Bhatt, a trial without a jury that could proceed in months, NBC Washington reported. Naresh Bhatt had been arrested and charged with concealment of a dead body on Aug. 22. He has been held in jail, and a judge denied bond.

Mamta Kafle Bhatt, 28, had last been seen on July 27 at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center, where she worked as a registered nurse. Her friend, Nadia Navarro, last heard from her on July 28.

Police did a welfare check on Aug. 2, but Naresh Bhatt declined to report his wife as missing. Her husband reported her missing on Aug. 5 and claimed to have last seen her on July 31. The couple has a 1-year-old child.

In court proceedings, investigators claimed Naresh Bhatt bought three knives on July 30 and may have killed her around that day, WUSA9 reported. On July 31, surveillance footage at a Walmart in Loudoun County showed him purchasing cleaning supplies.

The missing woman's cell phone location was last recorded in Loudoun County. Police have found evidence of blood in the home and a body being dragged, although testing has yet to confirm if it was Mamta's blood.

Investigators believe Naresh Bhatt was intending to flee, noting a packed house, a recently sold Tesla and an attempt to sell the Manassas Park home. The couple's 1-year-old daughter was with Naresh Bhatt until his Aug. 22 arrest, when social services took custody of the child.

A GoFundMe account was set up to support the 1-year-old and help Mamta's family travel from Nepal. The 1-year-old is now in the care of Mamta's mother and brother, who arrived from Nepal.

Anyone with information on Mamta's disappearance is asked to contact Manassas Park Police at 703-361-1136 or submit a tip to Crime Solvers at 703-330-0330 or manassascrimesolvers.org.