MANASSAS, Va. — The murder trial of Naresh Bhatt, a Manassas Park resident accused of killing and dismembering his wife, 28‑year‑old pediatric nurse Mamta Kafle Bhatt, resumed Monday in Prince William County Circuit Court.
Key evidence presented
Prosecutors asked Prince William County Police investigator Joseph Restino to unroll an approximately 8‑by‑10‑foot section of carpet from the primary bedroom of the couple’s home. The carpet was cut by investigators and displayed to the jury.
Restino testified that a suspected bloodstain was found underneath the carpet. Photographs of the stain were shown to jurors, and forensic testing had previously produced a positive reaction to the chemical reagent Bluestar, indicating the presence of blood.
Charges and background
Bhatt has remained in custody since his arrest in August 2024. He faces charges of first‑degree murder, concealing a dead body, and defiling a dead body.
The case began after Mamta failed to report for her shift at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center on Aug. 1, 2024. Co‑workers requested a welfare check at the couple’s Heather Court residence the following day when she missed two consecutive shifts.
When officers arrived, Bhatt told them he did not believe his wife was missing, saying he last saw her on July 29. Family and friends, however, insisted she would never abandon her infant daughter.
Investigation timeline
Bhatt filed a missing‑persons report on Aug. 5, claiming his wife had threatened to disappear and that a divorce was possible. Investigators initially found no indication of danger, but the same day the authorities declared her involuntarily missing.
On Aug. 22, police arrested Bhatt after discovering large bloodstains in the primary bedroom and bathroom. Court documents reveal investigators also seized a power saw containing hair fragments from the home and gathered evidence that Bhatt had visited multiple trash‑disposal sites. Mamta’s body has not been recovered.
Community response
The trial has drawn significant attention from Manassas residents, who are concerned for the safety of families in the area. Local clergy have offered prayers for the family of the victim and for a just resolution of the case.
As the trial proceeds, the prosecution’s presentation of physical evidence, such as the carpet and forensic findings, aims to establish a clear link between Bhatt and the alleged crime.
Next steps
The jury will continue to hear testimony and review additional evidence in the coming weeks. The court has not set a trial completion date, but both the prosecution and defense have indicated that the proceedings will likely extend into the fall.
Original reporting: Arlington County | FOX 5 DC — read the source article.
