Who is Naresh Bhatt?

MANASSAS PARK, Va. — Investigators say Naresh Bhatt killed his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt in late July and dragged her body outside their Manassas Park home.

The 37-year-old man was arrested last week by Manassas Park Police and charged with a single class six felony count for concealing a dead body. Prosecutors have not presented evidence to charge Naresh Bhatt with murder, and he has not confessed to the killing of his wife.

The couple has been married for over three years and in the last year the couple moved to their Manassas Park home with their now 1-year-old daughter.

Naresh Bhatt was an automated logistics specialist (92A) in the Army Reserve from June 2017 to February 2024. He has no deployments and left the Army in the rank of specialist according to an Army Public Affairs spokesperson.

The court appointed public defender representing Naresh Bhatt said during his bond hearing that he is a U.S. Citizen with a security clearance. Previously the defense argued that he should not remain in custody because he has no criminal record for violence or domestic abuse.

In June of 2020, Naresh Bhatt was by Fairfax County Police and in October of 2020 he transitioned to police recruit but was dismissed 22 days later for unsuccessfully fulfilling the requirements of his role police told WUSA9.

Prosecutors say that throughout the police investigation Naresh Bhatt provided detectives with conflicting stories about his wife.

During an Aug. 2 welfare check conducted at the Bhatt residence at the request of Mamta's colleagues, Naresh allegedly told police that he was in the process of separating with his wife. Prosecutors say he told officers that Mamta was either in New York or Texas visiting family, but they allege that the 28-year-old nurse has no biological family in the U.S. He also allegedly told police that Mamta had destroyed her phone before leaving.

Prosecutors say that Naresh Bhatt first told police that the last time he had seen his wife was the night of July 31, but later said it was the morning of Aug. 1. The public defender argued that the dates are conflicting because of the time frame in question.

Naresh Bhatt says it was not uncommon for Mamta to not come home. He said she has left for extended periods of time at least three times prior.

Naresh Bhatt told WUSA9's Katie Lusso, that a Manassas Park detective told him to look for his wife and to give police a call when he got tired of searching for her.

The public defender says Naresh Bhatt reached out to the same detective on Aug. 4 via text, but that the officer did not respond until the following day.

Manassas Park Police say that on Aug. 5 Naresh Bhatt reported his wife as missing.

On Aug. 7, Naresh posted on Facebook that his wife had been missing. He asked people to contact the nearest police department. "I appreciate your unconditional support and hope to get help down the road in future days," he wrote.

On Aug. 12, WUSA9 spoke to Naresh Bhatt outside the Manassas Park Police Department after he had been interrogated for hours. He refused to speak on camera, but during the recorded conversation he said he did not want to speak about the timeline of events and said, "I am suffering from a lot."

On Aug. 13, Naresh Bhatt told WUSA9's Katie Lusso that the couple ate dinner together and were taking care of their daughter the last time he saw her. "We are on the evening of Wednesday. She was the one who cooked and do the kitchen stuff. We do not have any specific conversation, We do not have any argument or something like that," he added.

Naresh Bhatt was not seen in the community searches conducted for his wife during the days that followed her disappearance.

On Aug. 14 Naresh Bhatt addressed a concerned and angry crowd outside the Manassas Park Police Department who questioned his lack of answers following his wife's deaths. "Thank you for, like, what you are doing and in a positive way," Naresh Bhatt told the crowd.

Manassas Park Police initially reported that Naresh Bhatt had been cooperative during the investigation, but on Aug. 21, Police Chief Mario Lugo called him a person of interest during a late night news conference. "He's been a point of interest and everyone knows that," Lugo said.

On Aug. 22 Naresh Bhatt was escorted out of his home in handcuffs and processed at the Prince William County Adult Detention Center for concealing a dead body.

Prosecutors said during his arraignment, that Naresh Bhatt had sold his Tesla on Aug. 19 and had attempted to sell his home to two people prior to his arrest.

His defense says Naresh Bhatt sold his car and attempted to sell his residence because he had financial issues. Naresh Bhatt had to pay $1,200 in car payments and $6,000 for his mortgage according to the public defender. He also added that the father was dedicated to taking care of his daughter and was not allowed to return to work following the disappearance of his wife.

On July 30, prosecutors say Naresh Bhatt traveled to a Walmart in Chantilly to purchase three knives, two of which are unaccounted for.

The following day he was captured on surveillance video at a different Walmart purchasing cleaning supplies according to prosecutors.

Prince William County Judge Lisa M. Baird said that Naresh Bhatt should remain in custody without bond because she considers there is substantial evidence that he is a threat to the community and at risk of flight.

During the bond hearing, prosecutors said that the U.S. Secret Service had offered up evidence that agency believed was pertinent in the case against Naresh Bhatt. According to prosecutors, in April, Naresh Bhatt allegedly used his work laptop to search, "How long does it take to get married after spouse die" and "What happen to debt died spouse."

In February Mamta Kafle Bhatt told Manassas Park Police that her husband allegedly refused to hand over her documents like her passport and that he had destroyed her phone.

Naresh Bhatt is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 24 for a preliminary hearing.