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
Windy City Pro Wrestling returns to Chicago area

Chicago area welcomes back Windy City Pro Wrestling

CHICAGO — Windy City Pro Wrestling is looking to body slam its…
Alyssa Farah Griffin Promises To “Wear A MAGA Hat” On ‘The View’ If Trump Can Get Israeli Hostages Freed

Alyssa Farah Griffin vows to wear a MAGA hat on ‘The View’ if Trump can secure release of Israeli hostages

Alyssa Farah Griffin made a promise her co-hosts would probably prefer she…
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson senior aide Jason Lee under scrutiny for voting in Texas

Investigation into Jason Lee, a top aide to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, for casting a vote in Texas

CHICAGO (WLS) — Another top aide for Mayor Brandon Johnson is under…
Amy Adams Flustered After Drew Barrymore Explains The Meaning Of Netflix And Chill: “Oh, You Guys!”

Amy Adams Left Feeling Confused by Drew Barrymore’s Explanation of “Netflix and Chill”: “Oh, That’s What It Means!”

Every day presents an opportunity to acquire new knowledge. During a recent…
REPORT: Christopher Wray Preparing Resignation As FBI Director

Breaking News: Christopher Wray Getting Ready to Step Down as FBI Director

Wray’s resignation was somewhat expected but brings up significant questions regarding the…
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…
Singer MIA says Jay-Z made outrageous demand after signing her as fallout from rape accusation continues

MIA reveals that Jay-Z made a startling request upon signing her as fallout from rape accusation lingers

MIA asserted that Jay-Z once advised her to undergo plastic surgery after…
UnitedHealthcare CEO killed: A timeline of events that led up to the fatal shooting of Brian Thompson outside Midtown Hilton hotel

Timeline of events leading to the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, outside Midtown Hilton hotel

The CEO of UnitedHealthcare was killed by a gunman in a targeted…
Luigi Mangione's startled reaction as McDonald's workers IDed suspected assassin after 5 days on the run

Luigi Mangione’s surprised response when McDonald’s employees identified the suspected assassin who had been on the run for 5 days

Suspected assassin Luigi Mangione was apparently left startled after McDonald’s employees recognized…
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…
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…
When Does ‘WWE Monday Night Raw’ Start on Netflix?

What time does ‘WWE Monday Night Raw’ begin streaming on Netflix?

Get ready for an exciting episode of Monday Night Raw tonight. The…