'We are her family now' | Community groups search for missing Manassas Park mother

MANASSAS PARK, Va. — Friends and concerned residents from across the DMV conducted the largest joint search yet in the effort to locate a 28-year-old mother Manassas Park mother who has been missing for more than two weeks.

Police say Mamta Kafle Bhatt's husband, Naresh Bhatt, was the last person to see her on July 31. 

More than 60 community members gathered at Bloom Park in Manassas Park Thursday. The place was selected because of the close proximity to Mamta's home and because she liked to take walks in the wooded area.

Jennifer Cooper is among the community members who have taken an interest in Mamta's case and on Thursday helped lead the search groups equipped with yellow vests, whistles, and some canines. 

"It gives me chill bumps. Most of the people here have no idea who she is. We have people from Dale City, Falls Church, that just felt compelled to come out here and help because we know she doesn't have family here, so we are her family now, so we are going to go out and look for her," Cooper said. 

The amateur search effort was started by Mamta's close friend and former roommate Nadia Navarro who created the Facebook group "Find Mamta Kafle Bhatt."

People participating in the search group say they felt compelled by Mamta's story, particularly her 11-month-year-old daughter who has not seen her mother in more than two weeks. 

Manassas Park Police arrived on scene after some people reported potentially suspicious areas in the park, but investigators quickly ruled it a false alarm.

Manassas Park Fire and EMS also arrived on the scene after at least one minor injury was reported by one of the participants. 

On Thursday Manassas Park Police said they have requested assistance from Virginia State Police and all other U.S. Police agencies to assist in the search for Mamta. 

Additionally, police provided more details in the scant timeline of events prior to Mamta's disappearance. 

Naresh Bhatt says he was at home with his wife on the night of July 31. 

"It was a normal day. You know? We were taking care of our baby," Bhatt told WUSA9.

The following day Mamta was scheduled to work at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center but she did not show up to her shift according to colleagues. Initially, WUSA9 reported that Mamta worked at Inova Fairfax Hospital, but according to the most recent information from coworkers, she had recently transferred to the Manassas Medical Center. 

On Aug. 2, Manassas Park Police say they conducted a welfare check at the Mamta's home following concerns from people at work. 

Naresh Bhatt says that during that visit from police, he told officers Mamta had been gone for extended periods of time three times prior.

"At that time we did not call police," he said.

Mamta's husband says police advised him to look for his wife. 

"He suggest to me, if it has happened before, search around, and if you are tired of searching then you can file it."

Police say that on Aug. 5, Naresh Bhatt filed the missing person's report.

Three days later, Manassas Park Police released information about the case, which prompted a response from Mamta's loved ones.

Mamta's husband, friends, and colleagues are all being cooperative in the ongoing investigation according to police.

Earlier in the morning, advocates gathered outside the Nepalese Embassy in Washington, D.C. as their concern grows for the Nepal native. 

Bandita Dahel was part of the small group that met with Nepalese officials as she advocated for additional resources to be used in the missing person's case. 

"Her husband might be getting some messages, you know," Dahel said as she described the frustration that Mamta's family in Nepal is experiencing due to the limited information they are receiving about the case. 

Dahel says the Nepalese community in the DMV is also growing concerned about new details they are finding out about Mamta. 

"Looks like she has reached out to various people for help. There are groups where she seeks certain information. You know, her coworkers and her friends might know more about the case. But all we know is that she is missing," she added.

The Consul General of Nepal in Washington, D.C. Uttam Ghimire told reporters that he is in close contact with Mamta's brother. 

"We reached out to the Department of State and the Manassas Park Police requesting an investigation into this case," Ghimire said. He also added that because Manassas Park is not their jurisdiction, they have to rely on the law enforcement authorities of the United States, but they have requested that they expedite the investigation.