Major Update About Missing Virginia Mom: Nurse’s Hubby Not Helping Cops

The husband of Mamta Kafle Bhatt, the Virginia pediatric nurse and mother who was last seen on July 31, is now considered a person of interest in her disappearance.

Manassas Park Police executed a search warrant on the couple’s home Wednesday, but Chief Mario Lugo did not provide details on any potential findings at a press conference that evening.

Lugo did, however, confirm that Naresh Bhatt, Mamta’s husband of three years, is not cooperating with authorities and is a person of interest in their investigation. The couple share a daughter, Neema, who turned 1 this week.

“To this point in the investigation, our investigators have executed over 10 search warrants and conducted hundreds of interviews related to this case,” Lugo said at the conference. “My staff continues to work tirelessly and follow up every lead, which we have received hundreds of leads on this case.”

Last week, Newsweek called Naresh. The Army veteran claimed to have difficulty hearing a Newsweek reporter as he was changing the couple’s daughter who could be heard in the background. The call got disconnected and a call back went to voicemail.

Newsweek called Naresh twice Thursday and it went straight to voicemail. Newsweek has also contacted the Manassas Park Police Department for comment.

Information regarding the search warrant is expected Thursday. Police are still at the couple’s home, which is surrounded with yellow police tape. Investigators could also be seen walking the perimeter of the property which backs up to a wooded area.

Mamta Bhatt was last seen last seen by her husband on July 31. She did not show up for work at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center on August 1. Officers conducted a wellness check for her at the couple’s home on August 2 and spoke to Naresh, who did not want to report her missing at that time. Naresh formally reported her missing to police on August 5.

Mamta Bhatt is described as 5 feet tall and weighing around 130 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. A clothing description of what she was wearing at the time of her disappearance was not available to police and Bhatt does not own any vehicles.

Her friend, Nadia Navarro, has been working tirelessly to find her. Navarro operates the Find Mamta Kafle Bhatt Facebook page and organized a GoFundMe to pay for friends’ and family’s search efforts.

Anyone who may know Mamta’s whereabouts or any information on this case is asked to call the Manassas Park PD at 703-361-1136. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to the Manassas City/Manassas Park Crime Solvers, 703-330-0330 or manassascrimesolvers.org.

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