Husband of Va. Mom Who Vanished in July Pleaded for Her Safe Return. He Was Just Led Away in Handcuffs

Mar. 15, 2025

Naresh Bhatt, Mamta Kafle.Photo:NBC 4 Washington/YouTube; Manassas Park Police Department

NBC 4 Washington/YouTube; Manassas Park Police Department

Three weeks after a pediatric nursefailed to check in for work, her husband, who is the father of their infant daughter, has been arrested.

It was not immediately clear what – if any – charges have been filed against him in connection to Mamta Kafle’s disappearance or if police believe she is still alive.

The arrest comes aftera search of the couple’s home Wednesday evening, according to police.

Chief of Police Mario Lugo said in a statement Wednesday that City of Manassas Police Department had been “working parallel” with entities in Nepal – where Kafle is from – during their investigation into the missing mother, executing “in excess of 10 search warrants” including one of the home that evening and conducting “hundreds of hours of interviews related to this case.”

Lugo said he was “limited” in what he could discuss in the “active and ongoing” investigation, which he called “a top priority” for his department.

Mamta Kafle.Find Mamta Kafle Bhatt/Facebook

Find Mamta Kafle Bhatt/Facebook

PEOPLE previously reported from aFacebook pagewith updates on the search that the mom had missed her Thursday, Aug. 1 nursing shift and that, wanting to get separated from her husband, she had joined a support group for single mothers.

Mamta Kafle.Go Fund Me

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Police say that a welfare check was conducted in connection to the missing woman on Aug. 2 and that her husband did not want to report her missing at the time. He waited another three days before doing so, per police.

The UVA Prince William Medical Center saw Kafle at an appointment Saturday, July 27, per police, who say that Kafle spoke to a friend a day later. The next three days are unaccounted for, except for her husband’s claim that he last saw her Wednesday, July 31, per police.

At a Monday, Aug. 12 rally, her husband – who did not attend in person but spoke through a phone – said that he “need[s] to find her as soon as possible, using all the tools, community, society, police,“NBC 4 Washingtonreported.

Information regarding Mamta Kafle’s missing persons case.Find Mamta Kafle Bhatt/Facebook

Kafle hadreportedlymoved from Nepal – where her entire family still resides – to the U.S. in 2021, living with a roommate in Fairfax County, Va., before her marriage to Bhatt.

Earlier this week, in a post to the Facebook page dedicated to the missing mother’s search, friendsmarkedher daughter’s first birthday.

“Today is going to be a fun day!” a friend posted, along with a picture of the little girl’s outfit, covered with unicorns and rainbows.

source: people.com