.png)
Mamta Kafle Baht, 28, has not been seen since July 31, according to police.
MANASSAS PARK, Va. — Friends, family and complete strangers are continuing the search for a missing woman who disappeared in late July. Police have reason to believe she didn't take off willingly.
Mamta Kafle Baht, 28, was last seen on July 31 and never showed up to her Aug. 1 shift at Inova Fairfax Hospital where she worked as a pediatric nurse. She was reported missing Aug. 5, three days after police went to her home to conduct a welfare check.
On Wednesday, after several days of independently searching for their friend, crowds gathered outside the Manassas Park Police headquarters demanding answers on their investigation.
“They can do a lot of things and they do know a lot but they don’t wana tell," said friend Sammy Chaudury, who spent the morning searching for Mamta Kafle Baht at Blooms Park, a spot she described as her friend's favorite place. "She was happy. She used to come here with her baby."
A witness told WUSA9 they saw police outside Mamta Kafle Baht's home Wednesday as well, and saw three detectives go in. All police would say is that it is still a missing person's case, which they are classifying as "involuntary," meaning she didn't go missing on her own. They also would not comment on what the family home has to do with the investigation.
Friends say they are struggling to make sense of the timeline and what happened between the welfare check on Aug. 2, when Mamta Kafle Baht's husband reported her missing on Aug. 5 and when police announced a missing person investigation on Aug. 8.
Naresh Baht addressed members of the search party, thanking them for their ongoing efforts to find his wife.
"Thank you for, like, what you are doing and in a positive way," Naresh Baht said.
But after he spoke, the crowd grew heated, with some friends directing anger toward Naresh Baht. Eventually, Virginia state Sen. Danica Roem stepped in to calm the tensions.
"No one here wants to hinder a police investigation," Roem said. "We just want Mamta to come home safely."
English (US) ·