Mamta Bhatt update: Naresh Bhatt of Virginia charged with murder 4 months after wife disappeared in Manassas Park, Va.

MANASSAS PARK, Va. — A Virginia man has been charged with murder more than four months after his wife disappeared and a substantial amount of blood was found in their suburban Washington home, authorities announced Monday.

Naresh Bhatt, 37, was indicted by a Prince William County grand jury and faces a charge of murder as well as a count of defiling a dead body, according to online court documents.

The body of Mamta Bhatt, 28, has not been found. But investigators linked her DNA to the blood found in the couple’s home, Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo said Monday evening at a news conference.

“From the beginning, we believed that she was murdered,” Lugo told reporters.

Investigators conducted their first search warrant when Naresh Bhatt was home with the couple’s baby and discovered blood in the bedroom as well as the bathroom, Lugo said.

He added that evidence shows that Bhatt cut up his wife’s body, which prompted the defiling charge.

“I feel we have a strong case for not having the body,” Lugo said.

Chief Public Defender Tracey Lenox did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment on the new charges against Bhatt, who is already in jail awaiting trial on separate charges in the case.

The investigation has drawn international attention to the small northern Virginia community, where homicide cases are rare. The disappearance of Mamta Bhatt, a pediatric nurse, spurred community members and her family in Nepal to band together to try to figure out what happened.

They posted on social media, hosted community events and held a rally. Within days, community members began to apply public pressure on her husband.

Three weeks after her disappearance in late July, Naresh Bhatt was charged with a felony count of concealing a dead body and placed in jail, where he remains. A prosecutor had said in court over the summer that the amount of blood found in the home indicated injuries that were not survivable.

Flowers, candles and photos are placed near Mamta Kafle Bhatt's mailbox in Manassas Park, Va., Sept. 4, 2024.

Flowers, candles and photos are placed near Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s mailbox in Manassas Park, Va., Sept. 4, 2024.

AP Photo/Olivia Diaz, File

The investigation continued in Mamta Bhatt’s death. But in September, Lenox, the public defender, argued that Naresh Bhatt was still entitled to a speedy trial on the count of concealing a dead body. The trial on that charge was scheduled for next week.

Bodiless murder cases are not unheard of, according to law enforcement experts. And while they can still be difficult to prosecute, they’ve become easier in recent years because of new types of evidence, such as DNA, cellphone location information and surveillance cameras.

Tad DiBiase is a former federal prosecutor and author of the 2014 book, “No-Body Homicide Cases: A Practical Guide to Investigating, Prosecuting and Winning Cases When the Victim is Missing.”

He keeps a tally of bodiless murder trials on his website. As of September 2, DiBiase noted that there was an 87% conviction rate after 604 trials across the U.S.

Copyright © 2024 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like
Beyonce and Jay-Z put on united front and bring Blue Ivy, 12, onto red carpet too in defiant act 24 hours after rapper was accused of raping girl, 13, with Diddy

Beyonce and Jay-Z Appear United with Blue Ivy on Red Carpet Amidst Controversy

At the premiere of the new movie Mufasa: The Lion King, Beyoncé…
Donald Trump immigration: Incoming border czar Tom Homan promises mass deportation, says he'll start with Chicago migrants

Tom Homan, the upcoming border leader, vows large-scale deportation starting with migrants from Chicago in the Trump administration’s immigration plan.

In Chicago, incoming border czar Tom Homan arrived in Portage Park on…
Mystery Disease X outbreak in Congo kills more children as health officials reveal risk level for America

“Deadly Mystery Disease X Outbreak in Congo Claims Lives of Children, Health Officials Warn of Potential Risk for America”

A mystery illness being dubbed ‘disease X’ has infected more than 400…
Hollywood director's British son who converted to Islam and joined Syrian rebel group could be at the very heart of the new Damascus regime after Bashar al-Assad's downfall

Young British man, son of a Hollywood director, who changed his religion to Islam and joined a rebel group in Syria may play a significant role in the new government in Damascus if Bashar al-Assad is removed from power.

A British convert may have found himself at the heart of Syria’s rebel…
See Selena Gomez’s Floored Reaction To Golden Globe Noms For ‘Emilia Pérez’ And ‘Only Murders’: “Oh My God!”

Selena Gomez’s Surprised Response to Golden Globe Nominations for ‘Emilia Pérez’ and ‘Only Murders’: “Oh wow!”

Selena Gomez could not hide her shock when she learned she had…
Luigi Mangione is heir to holiday resort fortune created by his grandparents and has sister who's top doctor

Luigi Mangione Inherits Family Holiday Resort Business from Grandparents, and His Sister is a Prominent Doctor

The individual believed to have murdered Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthCare,…
How To Watch ‘The Simpsons’ ‘Monday Night Football’ Stream: Start Time, Channel, How To Watch ‘The Simpsons Funday Football’ Online

Guide to Streaming ‘The Simpsons’ ‘Monday Night Football’: Time, Channel, How to Watch ‘The Simpsons Funday Football’ Online

Get ready to dust off your beloved Bort license plate because Monday…
Cicero car chase ends in shooting crash in Chicago with 1 dead, 6 injured at Roosevelt and Cicero in Lawndale

Police pursuit in Cicero results in a shooting accident in Chicago, leaving 1 dead and 6 injured at Roosevelt and Cicero in Lawndale.

CICERO, Ill. (WLS) — An investigation is ongoing after a car chase…
Beyonce's mother Tina Knowles makes shocking social media move as Jay-Z is accused of raping girl, 13, with Diddy

Tina Knowles takes bold social media stance amidst accusations against Jay-Z and Diddy for alleged assault

Beyonce’s mother Tina Knowles liked an Instagram post reporting that son-in-law Jay-Z was…
How to Watch New ‘Bluey’ Minisodes on Disney+

Guide to Watching Latest ‘Bluey’ Short Episodes on Disney+

Batch three of the Bluey minisodes are finally here! Episodes of the…
Arlington Heights, Illinois Village Board to vote on property tax deal with Chicago Bears

Town Council in Arlington Heights, Illinois to decide on tax agreement with Chicago Bears

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Arlington Heights Village Board is set to vote…
Daniel Penny verdict: Jury finds man not guilty in negligent homicide trial in Jordan Neely's death

Jury declares Daniel Penny innocent in negligence trial related to Jordan Neely’s death

NEW YORK — Daniel Penny has been found not guilty of criminally…