Naresh Bhatt's Google history in the months before his wife disappeared included searches for how long to wait to marry again after a spouse's death and what happens "in the event" a spouse dies, according to prosecutors.
The 37-year-old Manassas Park man, charged with concealing a dead body in connection with the disappearance of his wife Mamta Kafle Bhatt, was denied bond during a hearing Monday morning in Prince William County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in Manassas.
Mamta Kafle Bhatt
Judge Lisa M. Baird found probable cause that Naresh Bhatt is a danger to the community and maintained that he is also a flight risk. The hearing also saw prosecutors reveal new information surrounding the couple’s marital history and prior instances of domestic abuse.
Mamta Bhatt, a 28-year-old first-time mother and pediatric nurse, was last seen July 28. When she failed to show for her shift at UVA Prince William Medical Center on Aug. 2, co-workers asked police for a welfare check. Police say he did not want to report his wife missing at the time, but did so Aug. 5.
Friends, coworkers and the local Nepalese community have rallied in the aftermath of her disappearance to find her, bring her killer to justice and take care of the couple’s daughter, who turned 1 last week. Police have said evidence shows Mamta Bhatt is no longer alive. Her remains have not been found.
During Monday's hearing, Prince William County Senior Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Sarah Sami said police were summoned to the Bhatt's home at 9408 Heather Court in February for “disorderly” conduct.
At the time, police spoke to Mamta Bhatt, who said her husband “would not give her her documents and destroyed her phone,” Sami said.
Sami also said that during the investigation, an unnamed friend of Mamta’s told police that Mamta was a victim of domestic abuse and “suffered bruises in the months leading up” to her disappearance. Sami also said the friend described Mamta as “depressed.”
According to the prosecutor, investigators collaborated with the Secret Service upon Mamta’s disappearance. Naresh Bhatt, a former federal employee of defense contractor General Dynamics as of earlier this year, performed several suspicious Google searches on his work laptop in April, prosecutors revealed in court.
Sami read two of the Google searches verbatim as follows: “how long does take to get married after spouse dies” and “what happen in the event of dying spouse.”
Naresh Bhatt’s defense attorney, Shalev Ben-Avraham, repeatedly characterized the amounts of blood found in the Bhatt home as “minuscule,” claiming that the prosecution suffered from insufficient evidence in the case.
“That’s maybe a nosebleed,” Ben-Avraham said, adding that the Bhatt case has been buoyed by a “news media frenzy” that pressured Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo to issue search warrants in the case.
Ben-Avraham continued, “Blood is not a body part. Blood in and of itself is not enough. I have no idea how the magistrate issued a warrant for his arrest. [It’s] missing the key part for this particular statute.”
As for the BlueStar lighting technology police used to detect the blood in the Bhatts’ master bedroom and bathroom, Ben-Avraham said “technology cannot show whether this is human or animal blood … there are a whole host of reasons there could be blood in the bathroom. BlueStar has a lot of false positives, I won’t get into that at this point.”
Sami provided new details in the timeline of Mamta Bhatt’s disappearance, naming the cleaning supplies that Naresh purchased on July 31 as carpet cleaner, Lysol disinfectant wipes and Little Trees air fresheners. One day prior, he purchased a pack of three knives, two of which were unaccounted for after a search of the home last week.
Sami also said Naresh told police during their Aug. 2 wellness check at the home that he and Mamta were in the process of separating. On Aug. 15, Naresh notified Manassas Park that he was making preparations to send their 1-year-old daughter, Neema, back to Nepal.
“I think we all stand here feeling very relieved,” said Holly Wirth, a former coworker of Mamta Bhatt at Inova Health System, during a news conference after the hearing. “We were vindicated. This is not a media frenzy, this was not based on pressure – this is based on case law and statutes. Mr. Bhatt is where he needs to be.”
A preliminary hearing date has been set for Oct. 24 at 9 a.m., though the defense made clear that it intends to file a motion to advance this date.
(9) comments
Not sure why anyone is going at the defense attorney here. According to the Virginia State Bar, "A lawyer should act with commitment and dedication to the interests of the client and with zeal in advocacy upon the client's behalf."
If the defense attorney lacked zeal and commitment in mounting a defense for his client, *then* you would have something to complain about. But don't go after the guy for doing the job he is *supposed* to do under the US and Virginia system of law. It matters not who the defendant is or what they are accused of doing.
And this is a good thing. If a defendant has an incompetent lawyer, or one that is not committed to defending him, then any verdict in the case is suspect, at best. But if that defendant has had a competent and zealous advocate, and is still found guilty, then we can have more confidence in the result.
My opinion was formed based on his rhetoric. We haven't entered the courtroom yet. You went in a different direction.
@ Misconceived
You can paint this however you want, but this creep has a history of domestic abuse against her and it's a shame she couldn't get away ASAP from this monster. Maybe the Police should've looked further into his background before they conducted the welfare check, no? He was able to lie to them to their face after the fact he committed murder. He'll pay the price, weirdos like yourself who are aligned with O.J. Simpson think otherwise.
Have you not learned anything about the underpinnings of Western jurisprudence? This waste of oxygen WILL get his come-uppance, no doubt. But there are some on here throwing stones at his lawyer, which makes zero sense. The right to representation, the right to a fair trial, the positional presumption of innocence, the right to face your accuser, guardrails around search and seizure - these are what make us different from China, Venezuela, Cuba, and others. But maybe you would prefer to live there where they chop off your head, ask questions later, and no one ever has confidence whether justice was truly served. Good luck. This d-bag is vile and filled with evil. That's no reason to castigate his lawyer for doing his job. Honestly, I do not understand that line of reasoning. What if you were the defense attorney? Would you violate your oath and throw all your clients to the wolves who appeared (or actually are) guilty? I would hope not. Under our system of laws, even the vilest offenders are granted the right to counsel (including court-appointed attorneys) who, while perhaps not trying to prove their innocence, at least advocate for their treatment to remain within the bounds of the law. Not sure why there's any argument on this.
"What if you were the defense attorney? Would you violate your oath and throw all your clients to the wolves who appeared (or actually are) guilty? I would hope not. Under our system of laws, even the vilest offenders are granted the right to counsel (including court-appointed attorneys) who, while perhaps not trying to prove their innocence, at least advocate for their treatment to remain within the bounds of the law."
No, I wouldn't. I also wouldn't spew ridiculous rhetoric like it's amateur hour either. I am more than aware of the Judicial process, and thankfully the Judge is no fool either. You didn't "prefer" my initial comments, this defense attorney will continue to exaggerate, this is fact.
"Media Frenzy" What Media Frenzy? [rolleyes]
Animal blood? Yes that's the husband's blood mixed in with Mamta's. Glad to see this Murderer where he belongs. Defense is going to have to continue to exaggerate, that's all they got.
What's the defense attorney going to come up with next? That Mamta was a victim of an alien abudiction?
Mom's spaghetti.
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