Manassas Park Police Chief tells WUSA9 the community's response to Mamta Kafle Bhatt's disappearance is inspiring

MANASSAS PARK, Va. — It has now been one month since anyone has seen or heard from Mamta Kafle Bhatt. Her husband, Naresh Bhatt, was charged with 'concealing a dead body' on Aug. 22. He made appearances in a Prince William Court on August 23 and August 26.

Prosecutors have not presented evidence to charge Naresh Bhatt with murder, and he has not confessed to killing his wife.

"Our detectives and supervisors are out right now actively looking for her. It's promising," said Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo. He said it's 'promising' because "we're getting leads and tips coming in and we're following up."

He spoke to WUSA9 Tuesday night, before the Manassas Park City Council meeting, just hours after the department executed another search warrant at the couple's Manassas Park home.

"The search warrant today was a new search warrant," explained Chief Lugo. "We executed a search warrant this afternoon to look for additional evidence and we located additional evidence. Unfortunately I can't disclose what they are but we are making progress".

He says there have been more than 10 search warrants executed, including one for Naresh Bhatt's blue Tesla.

"That is one of the search warrants that we're waiting on results back. He did sell the car but we have possession of the car we were able to retrieve it," said Chief Lugo.

In court, prosecutors revealed that they have evidence showing that Naresh Bhatt purchased three knives at a Walmart in Chantilly.

WUSA9 asked the chief if any searches are happening by investigators in Loudoun County.

"Currently there is not, but we are talking to Loudoun County," he explained.

"We are also talking to Fairfax County and we have federal partners that we're working with, the FBI, Customs Border Patrol, and obviously, as you heard in court, Secret Service provided us some emails. So, we have federal partners that we work with and they've been offering assistance and we've been taking it in," said Lugo.

WUSA9 asked Chief Lugo if all of these search efforts meant that there was hope that she'd be found alive.

"I hate to give hope that she is. I don't believe that she's still alive at this point," he told WUSA9.

As WUSA9 spoke with the police chief inside City Hall, a group of neighbors and friends gathered outside. 

"This has been a very dark day for all of us. Our community is still mourning. The grieving is still going on. But, we still want them to be aware that we need to have some type of closure," said Prabha Nepal Bhattsrai Deuja.

They also addressed the council members, telling them there needs to be more resources for women in domestic violence situations. 

"A lot of women are watching who feel a connection to this case, who can relate to this case," said Nadia Navarro.

The mayor, Jeanette Rishell, gave them her full attention. When WUSA9 asked to speak with her prior to the meeting, she rushed off and said she was too busy.

As for the friends and community members who've been calling for 'Justice for Mamta', Chief Lugo said, "It's amazing that they're keeping her in the spotlight. I encourage them to continue doing that it encourages us."

He told WUSA9 his message to them is that everyone wants the same thing.

"We want to figure out what happened and hold those accountable," said Chief Lugo.