MANASSAS PARK, VA — Two years after the disappearance of Nepali-origin nurse and mother Mamta Kafle Bhatt, her family, friends, and supporters continue to seek answers while the criminal case against her husband moves toward trial. Mamta was last heard from on July 29, 2024, and despite an extensive investigation, her remains have never been found.
The case has drawn widespread attention across Northern Virginia and the Nepali community worldwide. Prosecutors allege that Mamta was killed inside the family’s Manassas Park home, while her husband, Naresh Bhatt, has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains in custody awaiting trial.
Mamta Kafle Bhatt, a pediatric nurse and mother of a young daughter, was reported missing after she failed to appear at work and stopped communicating with relatives and friends. As investigators searched for clues, evidence collected from the family’s home and digital records led authorities to increasingly believe that her disappearance was the result of foul play.
In August 2024, Naresh Bhatt was arrested as the investigation intensified. Prosecutors later charged him with first-degree murder, concealment of a dead body, and physical defilement of a dead body. Despite the charges, Mamta’s body has never been recovered.
The prosecution’s case relies heavily on forensic, digital, and circumstantial evidence. Court filings and public statements have pointed to blood evidence recovered from the family residence, surveillance footage, internet search records, and other investigative findings. Prosecutors allege the evidence demonstrates that Mamta was killed even though her remains have not been located.
The case became one of the region’s most closely watched criminal investigations because authorities are pursuing a murder conviction without recovering a body, a challenge that often requires extensive forensic evidence.
In May 2026, prosecutors revealed new forensic findings from a reciprocating power saw seized from the Bhatt residence. According to court documents, investigators recovered three human hairs, thirteen human hair fragments, fibers, and debris from the tool. Some of the hairs were considered potentially suitable for DNA testing and were submitted for further analysis.
The newly disclosed evidence added to previously reported forensic findings that prosecutors say connect Naresh Bhatt to his wife’s disappearance and presumed death. Defense attorneys have continued to contest the allegations, and Naresh Bhatt maintains his innocence.
On July 31, 2026, family members, friends, and supporters gathered outside the Manassas Park Police Department to mark two years since Mamta’s disappearance. Many wore red, her favorite color, while speakers reflected on her life and called for justice.
Mamta’s mother, Gita Kafle, thanked supporters for standing beside the family throughout the past two years and expressed hope that those responsible would ultimately be held accountable. Community leaders and advocates also urged supporters to remain engaged as the case moves toward trial.
Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo reaffirmed the department’s commitment to the case, describing it as a tragedy that deeply affected the community and pledging continued support for the prosecution.
The case is expected to enter a new phase in the coming months. Court proceedings are continuing, with a pre-trial conference scheduled for September and the murder trial currently expected to begin in October 2026. As the legal process moves forward, Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s family remains focused on obtaining justice and finding closure. More than two years after her disappearance, supporters continue to remember her not only as a victim in a high-profile criminal case, but as a beloved daughter, nurse, mother, and member of the Nepali community whose absence is still deeply felt.