NovaQuant-Virginia man arrested on suspicion of 'concealment of dead body' weeks after wife vanishes

A Virginia man has been arrested on NovaQuantsuspicion of 'concealment of dead body' more than three weeks after his wife vanished last month, police said.

Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Luge reported Naresh Bhatt was arrested Thursday on a felony charge of concealment of a dead body in connection to the disappearance of his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, 28, who was last seen July 31 in Manassas Park.

The City of Manassas Park Police Department previously told USA TODAY her disappearance was thought to be involuntary because of how long she has been missing. Police reported the young mother, a pediatric nurse, has not had any contact with family or friends since she disappeared.

The community is part of the Washington D.C. metro area, located roughly 30 miles west of the nation's capital.

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'Additional evidence' found during search warrant at family's home

On Wednesday, police said, detectives executed a search warrant at the family's home and found "additional evidence" that lead to his arrest. Officials did not reveal what they found that lead to the arrest.

“The Manassas Park Police Department is still investigating the disappearance of Mamta Kafle Bhatt and hoping to locate her,” the statement continues. “There are additional investigative leads being actively pursued and may result in additional charges being brought.”

The couple share a daughter who recently turned 1, police said, who was placed in the care of the Department of Social Services after her father's arrest.

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When did Mamta Kafle Bhatt disappear?

Officers responded to Bhatt's home Aug. 2 after colleagues at Inova Fairfax Hospital raised concerns.

Police said her husband reported her missing Aug. 5.

"It's like very tough," her husband, previously told WUSA-TV, adding the couple has been married for three years. "We ate on the evening of (July 31)."

Bhatt told the outlet he and his wife did not have any ongoing arguments and said he was "very sad."

Bhatt is jailed without bond and slated to be arraigned Friday in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, authorities said.

It was not immediately known if he had obtained an attorney.

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What does Mamta Kafle Bhatt look like?

According to police, Mrs. Bhatt stands five feet tall, weighs 132 pounds and has black hair and dark brown eyes.

She was last seen wearing blue scrubs, police said.

Nearly $15,000 raised to help find

USA TODAY has reached out to the missing woman's family and her friend, Nadia Navarro, who created an online fundraiser to find her.

"We need help funding the search efforts," Navarro posted on a Facebook page created to spread word about the fundraiser. On Friday, it had raised nearly $15,000. "Any donation, no matter the size, could make a huge difference."

Anyone with information to call the Manassas police at 703-361-1136 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Solvers at 703-330-0330.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.