Prosecutors charge husband of missing nurse Mamta Kafle Bhatt

MANASSAS PARK, Va. (Court TV) — The husband of a missing pediatric nurse and mother has been formally charged in connection with his wife’s disappearance.

FILE – Mamta Kafle Bhatt (Manassas Park Police)

Mamta Kafle Bhatt, 28, was last seen on July 31. Manassas Park Police said Bhatt is thought to be “missing on involuntary circumstances.”

On Thursday, police announced that Bhatt’s husband, Naresh Bhatt, was charged with felony concealment of a dead body. The charges came one day after authorities searched the couple’s home. In a press release , police said the home search was one of 10 search warrants conducted in the investigation.

Vinnie Politan Investigates: The Disappearance of Mamta Kafle Bhatt

Chief of Police Mario Lugo initially called Naresh a person of interest in her disappearance and said he was not cooperating with police. The information was relayed at a press conference while the search of the couple’s home was underway.

Investigators said the couple’s 1-year-old daughter was taken from the home separately and placed into the custody of the Department of Social Services.

Although Mamta was last seen July 31, she wasn’t reported missing until Aug. 5. Investigators contacted Naresh on Aug. 2 after her coworkers requested a welfare check. At that time, he said she wasn’t missing. Police said on Thursday that they are continuing to actively investigate her disappearance and are hoping to locate her.

Naresh is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday, Aug. 23.