On December 2, 2024, a Prince William County grand jury indicted Naresh Bhatt, a 37-year-old Nepali American and Northern Virginia resident, on charges of first-degree murder and defiling of a dead body.
The indictment follows the late July disappearance of Bhatt’s wife, 28-year-old Mamta Kafle Bhatt, a pediatric nurse. Three weeks after she went missing, Bhatt was charged with concealing and physically defiling a dead body. He was taken into custody and has remained in jail since.
Mamta, a Nepali citizen, who immigrated to the United States in 2021, worked at UVA Prince William Hospital. She was last seen leaving work on July 27, but was only reported missing by her friends when she didn’t show up to work on August 1.
According to court documents, police found evidence of significant bloodstains in the home, suggesting a body had been in the master bedroom, and was later moved to the bathroom.
This past Monday, a first-degree murder charge was added, after police stated that forensic evidence confirmed Mamta was killed and dismembered inside the couple’s home. Mamta’s body has yet to be found.
“The forensic unit of Prince William County said it was one of the worst crime scenes they’ve seen,” Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo told reporters at a press conference. “Today we presented the case to the grand jury. The grand jury returned an indictment of first-degree murder and defiling a body.”
Based on fresh evidence, police are now confident that they can prove that Mamta was murdered and dismembered by Bhatt inside their home.
“I just know that whatever happened in the house, it was murder. From the beginning, we believed she was murdered in the case based on the crime scene,” said Chief Lugo emphasizing “This just helps the case, kind of, certifies what we thought occurred.”
Since Mamta’s disappearance, the case has evoked considerable interest around the country, but especially in Northern Virginia. The local community, particularly members of the Nepali community, have organized candlelight vigils and peaceful marches in the Manassas Park area to advocate for justice on her behalf.
Commissioner, Maryland Governor’s Commission on South Asian American Affairs and Governor’s office of Community Initiatives, Dr. Bishal Bhandari, told South Asian Herald, “The tragic disappearance and presumed death of Mamta Kafle has profoundly saddened our Nepali community in Virginia and beyond. During these challenging times, it is imperative that we place our faith in the legal system. The authorities are diligently pursuing justice for Mamta, and we are confident that through due process, the truth will emerge.”
Dr. Bhandari, a prominent Nepali American, highlighted that as the legal proceedings progress, with a trial set for September 8, 2025, there is hope that upcoming court filings will shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the case.
Emphasizing the importance of the community’s role in the tragic case, Dr. Bhandari went on to say, “It is crucial for our community to maintain patience and allow the justice system to operate effectively.” He also urged the community to remain united, offering support to one another and to Mamta’s family during this difficult time.
Founder of The Great Nepali Diaspora, Preeti Adhikary, told South Asian Herald, “Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s case showcased the best and the worst of our community. I love how people rallied together to look for her and fight for justice. So many domestic violence awareness campaigns and workshops were conducted. Even if one person is saved through these activities, it is a win.”
Adhikary, a prominent advocate for the Nepali community around the globe, however expressed concern about how some have exploited Mamta’s photos and videos to advance their own agendas to “sensationalize the issue,” and generate viral social media content, without “empathy or respect.”
