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
Urgent CDC warning as new drug carfentanil 100 times more deadly than fentanyl kills hundreds in 37 states

CDC Issues Urgent Warning: Carfentanil, a Drug 100 Times Deadlier than Fentanyl, Causes Hundreds of Deaths in 37 States

Health officials are warning about a drug 100 times more potent than fentanyl…
Yup, the Never-Trump Crowd Is Insufferable

Yes, those who oppose Trump are intolerable

I totally agree, and I would like to add another point to…
Daniel Penny jury fixated on single piece of testimony about how Jordan Neely died

Daniel Penny’s jury focused on a specific testimony about the death of Jordan Neely.

The New York City jury, composed of seven women and five men,…
First major DOGE directive to Musk and Vivek revealed as they meet with lawmakers

Initial directive on DOGE disclosed during Musk and Vivek’s meeting with policymakers

A new bill proposed by a Republican aims to empower Donald Trump’s…
NEW: As People In NC Are Living in Tents in the Cold, Biden Pledges More Money Overseas

UPDATED: Biden Promises More Funding Abroad as North Carolina Residents Forced to Live in Cold Tents

On Tuesday, it was mentioned that Joe Biden pledged one billion dollars…
What Day Does ‘Outlander’ Come Out? Where and When To Watch ‘Outlander’ Season 7 Episode 11

When will Season 7 Episode 11 of ‘Outlander’ be released and how can I watch it?

The latest episode of Outlander Season 7, titled “Brotherly Love,” left viewers…
Art Basel Miami Beach 2024: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ice Spice, Alix Earle and more

Celebrity Lineup at Art Basel Miami Beach 2024

Art Week is currently happening in Miami Beach, Florida with a plethora…
The shockingly easy way America could slip into a Korean war... with 30,000 US troops suddenly in Kim Jong Un's nuclear targets, writes MARK ALMOND

How America could easily get involved in a Korean war, with 30,000 US troops at risk of Kim Jong Un’s nuclear weapons – by MARK ALMOND

If you only knew about boy bands and Samsung in modern South…
Is ‘Doctor Odyssey’ Episode 9 On Tonight? Here’s When ‘Doctor Odyssey’ Will Return

Did ‘Doctor Odyssey’ Episode 9 air tonight? Discover when the next episode of ‘Doctor Odyssey’ will be back.

Doctor Odyssey is one of the fall’s most exciting new series so…
‘RHOSLC’ Star Mary Cosby Cries As She Explains Why She And Her Son Opened Up About His Drug Struggles On TV

Mary Cosby from ‘RHOSLC’ Tears Up While Discussing Decision to Share Son’s Drug Struggles on TV

Mary Cosby from The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City has shared…
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's widow breaks silence to reveal he had received 'some threats' before he was shot dead

The wife of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson speaks out about threats he received before his fatal shooting

The wife of the slain health insurance CEO Brian Thompson said that…
Meghan Markle dazzles in diamonds and strapless gown for solo red carpet appearance at Hollywood gala

Meghan Markle Shines in Diamonds and Strapless Dress at Hollywood Event

Meghan Markle dazzled during a solo red carpet appearance on Wednesday, as she…