The husband of a 28-year-old Virginia woman who has been missing for over three weeks was arrested at the couple’s home on Thursday and accused of hiding her body.
Naresh Bhatt was charged with prohibition against concealment of a body in connection to the disappearance of his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, who was reported missing on Aug. 5, Manassas Park officials announced .
The missing woman was last seen at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center in Manassas, where she worked as a nurse, on July 27, and last spoke to a friend the following day, police said . Her husband claimed he last saw her on July 31.
Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo confirmed Thursday to ABC affiliate WJLA that Mamta Bhatt is now presumed dead.
Prosecutors speaking at her husband’s arraignment on Friday alleged that Naresh Bhatt was seen at Walmart buying a pack of three knives on July 30 and returned the following day to buy cleaning supplies, WJLA reported.
Police said officers conducted a welfare check at the couple’s home on Aug. 2 and spoke with Bhatt, but he did not want to report his wife missing at the time. The couple share a 1-year-old daughter.
Prosecutors said he told police during their initial visit that his wife had gone to see relatives in New York or Texas and that she had destroyed her phone before leaving, according to WJLA. But detectives later learned that Mamta Bhatt did not have any relatives in those states, the outlet said.
Mamta Kafle Bhatt, a 28-year-old mother and nurse, is presumed dead, police said.
Naresh Bhatt eventually reported his wife missing on Aug. 5 and, at that point, was cooperating with the investigation, police said in an Aug. 15 press release.
In an interview with WUSA9 last week, he said he’d last seen his wife at dinner on July 31 and described her as “a special person” who was “caring and loving.”
He told the outlet that she had gone missing three times before but had never been gone for so long.
Speaking to the crowd at a vigil for his wife on Aug. 14, Naresh Bhatt said he was “the one who is suffering” and pleaded for his wife to come back.
“Hey, just come back. I’m myself and my baby, we are waiting like every second, every minute, we are waiting. If you are listening, just we are waiting here for you. We need you,” he said.
Prosecutors said at Friday’s arraignment that Bhatt had sold his Tesla on Aug. 19 and had tried to sell his house, according to WJLA.
Manassas Park officials said on Thursday that detectives who searched the couple’s home on Aug. 21 had obtained additional evidence that led to his arrest. Investigators observed a packed suitcase at the home and said Naresh Bhatt’s “passport was available upon entry,” WJLA reported.
WJLA and NBC affiliate WRC-TV also reported that detectives had found pools of blood in the primary bedroom that led into the bathroom, citing court documents. Detectives said in the documents that they believed a body had been dragged through the house.
Authorities said Naresh Bhatt could face additional charges as the investigation continues. The couple’s daughter has been placed in the care of a social services-approved caregiver.
Bhatt is set to appear in court on Oct. 24 for an adjudicatory hearing, according to WJLA. His defense attorney reportedly said in court that there isn’t enough evidence, nor a confession, to prove his guilt.
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