Aug. 23- Prince William prosecutors on Friday morning painted a grisly picture of what may have occurred inside the Manassas Park home of Naresh and Mamta Bhatt sometime in the final days of July.
During the arraignment of Naresh Bhatt, the 37-year-old Manassas Park man who was arrested Thursday and charged with concealing a dead body following the weeks-long disappearance of his wife, the prosecutor said investigators found what they believe were dried pools of blood in the house.
The whereabouts of 28-year-old Mamta Kafle Bhatt, the wife, remain unknown, though police told friends of Mamta Bhatt they’re “99%” sure she’s no longer alive.
Prosecutors said Friday the seeming blood in the couple’s bedroom was found in a manner that appeared as though someone may have been “dragged” across the floor.
Speaking about the light-up blood spatter technology used during the search, Prince William County Senior Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Sarah Sami said “the whole floor of this shower lights up.”
Sami said investigators have evidence of Naresh Bhatt purchasing a pack of three knives on July 30. Two of the knives were unaccounted for after the home was searched.
According to the criminal complaint, authorities believe Mamta Bhatt was murdered by Naresh "on or about July 30."
Speaking about the light-up blood spatter technology used during the search, Prince William County Senior Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Sarah Sami said, “the whole floor of this shower lights up.”
Sami said investigators have evidence of Naresh Bhatt purchasing a pack of three knives on July 30. Two of the knives were unaccounted for after the home was searched.
According to the criminal complaint, authorities believe Mamta Bhatt was murdered by Naresh "on or about July 30."
"During the course of this investigation, a substantial amount of digital and forensic evidence consistent with her death was recovered," the complaint states.
The complaint continues, in handwriting: "There was evidence in the residence indicating the body was inside the residence and dragged out of the residence."
Naresh Bhatt was then seen on camera buying cleaning supplies at a Walmart in Loudoun County on July 31, according to the prosecution.
Mamta’s phone died on Aug. 1, with its last location in Loudoun, prosecutors said.
According to Friday's hearing, investigators found a packed suitcase at the home when executing a search warrant, and Naresh Bhatt reportedly sold his Tesla and tried to sell his house in recent weeks.
“The house appeared to be packed up,” Sami told the judge.
According to Friday's hearing, investigators found a packed suitcase at the home when executing a search warrant, and Naresh Bhatt reportedly sold his Tesla and tried to sell his house in recent weeks.
“The house appeared to be packed up,” Sami told the judge.
“I understand what the optics of this looks like,” Bhatt’s attorney said. “But they actually haven’t released a shred of evidence that he did anything wrong. He has no violent history … he has no allegations of abuse.”
The attorney continued, “We just have this apparently concealed a body, which, not for nothing, judge, we don’t know that there is, in fact … She could be somewhere. We don’t know whether or not she is passed away or deceased based on what they have.”
Ultimately, Bhatt – a U.S. citizen and former active-duty member of the Army Reserve – was ordered to remain held without bond.
Naresh Bhatt was accompanied by a translator during the arraignment.
At a news conference following the court proceedings, friends and supporters of Mamta Kafle Bhatt spoke to the morning’s events.
“The details that came out were way more horrifying than I would have expected,” said Holly Wirth, a former co-worker of Mamta Bhatt’s at Inova Health System, during a news conference after the arraignment. “It sounds whatever happened in that house reached a high level of brutality. And that makes me sad to think that my Mamta suffered greatly in what appears to be her last moments.”
Wirth said Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s mother has been granted an emergency visa to travel from Nepal to the United States.
A preliminary hearing date in the case is currently set for Oct. 24.
The Bhatts have a daughter who turned 1 earlier this week. She had been in the care of Naresh Bhatt before yesterday. She's now in the custody of social services.
Wirth said Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s mother has been granted an emergency visa to travel from Nepal to the United States.
A preliminary hearing date in the case is currently set for Oct. 24.
Check back to InsideNoVa.com for updates. InsideNoVa Digital Editor Kari Pugh contributed to this report. GET MORE LOCAL NEWS. Sign up for free e-mail alerts from INSIDENOVA
Bristow Beat has a content-sharing agreement with InsideNoVa. Copyright still applies.
Support Bristow Beat - Donate Today!