A Virginia man has been charged with murder and defiling a dead body over four months after his wife, Mamta Bhatt, disappeared from their suburban Washington home. Authorities announced Monday that substantial evidence, including DNA-matched blood, led to the indictment despite the absence of the victim’s body.
Husband Indicted Following Months-Long Investigation
Naresh Bhatt, 37, was indicted by a Prince William County grand jury and now faces charges of murder and defiling a dead body. According to Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo, the evidence suggests that Bhatt murdered his 28-year-old wife, a pediatric nurse, and dismembered her body.
“From the beginning, we believed that she was murdered,” Lugo said at a news conference, adding that DNA linked Mamta Bhatt to the blood discovered in the couple’s bedroom and bathroom.
Disappearance Draws International Attention
Mamta Bhatt was last seen in late July, prompting widespread concern in the northern Virginia community and beyond. Her family in Nepal and local supporters hosted rallies, shared social media posts, and held events to demand answers.
Naresh Bhatt initially faced a felony charge of concealing a dead body three weeks after her disappearance. At the time, a prosecutor revealed that the volume of blood found at the scene indicated injuries that were “not survivable.”
Challenges of Bodiless Murder Cases
Bodiless murder cases, while challenging, are increasingly solvable due to advancements in forensic science and technology. Former federal prosecutor Tad DiBiase, an expert on such cases, notes that modern tools like DNA evidence, cellphone location data, and surveillance footage bolster prosecutions.
As of September, DiBiase reported an 87% conviction rate in 604 bodiless murder trials across the U.S.
Chief Lugo expressed confidence in the evidence. “I feel we have a strong case for not having the body,” he said.
