A Virginia man who allegedly looked up “how long does it take to get married after spouse die” online before his wife disappeared has been charged with her murder.
Naresh Bhatt, 37, was charged Monday with first-degree murder and physically defiling a dead body, adding to a charge he received in August of concealing a dead body — even though authorities still have not located his wife’s remains, WUSA9 reported.
Three months before Mamta Kafle Bhatt, 28, went missing, Naresh Bhatt used his work laptop to look up, “How long does it take to get married after spouse die” and “What happen to debt died spouse,” prosecutors said.
Authorities said Mamta Kafle Bhatt likely died in a bloody struggle inside the couple’s home in July. Blood found in the couple’s bedroom and bathroom matched Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s DNA, and an investigation revealed her body was likely dismembered, Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo said.
“The forensic unit of Prince William County said it was one of the worst crime scenes they’ve seen. That was one statement they made the day that Naresh was arrested,” he said.
While her body has not been recovered by authorities, Lugo said the DNA results were what prompted the two new charges.
The 28-year-old has not been seen since July 29, though her husband only reported her missing on Aug. 5.
Prosecutors also accused Naresh Bhatt of going to Walmart on July 30 to buy three knives, two of which are missing. The next day, he was caught on surveillance footage at a different Walmart buying cleaning supplies, prosecutors said.
Authorities have said they have searched extensively for Mamta Kafle Bhatt now for months, but Lugo says they do not believe she is alive.
“Searches ─ we’ve done over 10. We’ve done grid searches ─ searches with K9s,” Lugo said. “In terms of search warrants and subpoenas, I think we’re pushing probably 30 that we have submitted and received information on.”
The couple had been together for more than 3 years and shared a 1-year-old daughter, who has since been in the care of Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s family.
“My heart is hurt,” her grieving mother, Gita Kafle, told WUSA9 last month.
“She was a person who was very hardworking, very beautiful [and] very honest. She aspired to be somebody great and she worked really hard and she could be. I don’t know what to say because I can never forget her but whenever I think about it I have my heartache.”
