MANASSAS PARK, Va. (7News) — Lacking Manassas Park mom Mamta Kafle Bhatt is presumed useless, Police Chief Mario Lugo confirmed Thursday, as authorities proceed investigating her disappearance and hope to search out her.
Her husband, Naresh Bhatt, wascharged Thursday with Prohibition In opposition to Concealment of a Lifeless Physique in connection to her disappearance.
Based on the Library of Congress, the Prohibition In opposition to Concealment of a Lifeless Physique is a felony cost given to “any one that transports, secretes, conceals or alters a useless physique, as outlined in 32.1-249, with malicious intent and to stop detection of an illegal act or to stop the detection of the demise or the style or explanation for demise.”
Police supplied an up to date timeline Thursday, saying Mamta, 28, was final seen on July 28 and the final identified contact was July 29. Naresh advised police he noticed her laston July 31.
Authorities performed a welfare verify on Aug. 2 following a request from her employer. Naresh reported her lacking three days afterward Aug. 5.
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Police mentioned extra investigative leads could result in additional costs towards Naresh. He’s being held with out bond pending his arraignment Friday morning within the Juvenile and Home Relations District Court docket.
Earlier Thursday, Amy Ashworth, Commonwealth’s Lawyer for Prince William County, advised 7News that authorities “do not know” ifMamta is alive. However Manassas Park Police Division Chief Mario Lugo advised 7News she is presumed useless at this level. The division hopes to find her and can proceed to research her disappearance.
On Thursday morning, 7News cameras captured Naresh as he was put into handcuffs and positioned inside a police cruiser. This follows the execution of a search warrant on the couple’s dwelling on Wednesday after Mamta was lacking for 3 weeks.
Mamta’s daughter, lined by a blanket, was taken out of the house by authorities Thursday morning following his arrest. The little woman is protected and has been positioned within the care of the Division of Social Providers, police mentioned.
Mamta’s mom, who lives in Nepal, is working to get an emergency visa to come back and attempt to get emergency custody of her granddaughter, mentioned Bandita Sharma Dhal, her immigration lawyer.
“Proper now her solely intention is to come back right here, seize that child, maintain that child tight,” Dhal mentioned. “Request the U.S. embassy in Nepal to expedite [her visa] as a result of that child wants somebody to handle her. Particularly that might be good to have Mamta’s mom.”
Throughout a Wednesday night time press convention, Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo said that the division pursued quite a few leads and performed over 10 search warrants associated to the case, together with the one executed on the couple’s residence on Wednesday. Police additionally performed tons of of interviews in reference to the case.
Chief Lugo additionally revealed that Naresh Bhatt was not cooperating with the police and had been recognized as an individual of curiosity.
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TIMELINE OF MAMTA’S DISAPPEARANCE:
July 27: Mamta was final seen on the UVA Well being Prince William Medical Heart
July 28: Mamta spoke to a buddy
July 31: Naresh final noticed Mamta
Aug. 2: Police responded to a welfare verify at Mamta’s residence and spoke to her husband, who didn’t need to report her as lacking at the moment
Aug. 5: Naresh formally reported Mamta as lacking to the police
Aug. 5-8: Detectives performed an “in depth” investigation into the disappearance
Aug. 21: Police serve a search warrant at Mamta’s dwelling and title Naresh as an individual of curiosity and mentioned he is notcooperating with police
Aug. 22:Naresh was put into cuffs and brought into custody by MPPD
Since Mamta’s disappearance, the group has proven robust help, with residents from Manassas Park and past coming collectively to help within the search efforts because the MPPD continues its investigation.
“I really feel horrible for the newborn and the mom. I really feel sick to my abdomen. It is devastating to have or not it’s somebody you reside near,” neighbor Ivy Freeman advised 7News.
