Jury selection began Monday, October 5, 2026, in Virginia for Naresh Bhatt, who is accused of murdering his wife, Nepali nurse Mamata Kafle Bhatt. The trial starts more than two years after Mamata disappeared from her home in Manassas Park, Virginia, and her body has yet to be found.
The trial, overseen by Prince William County Circuit Court Judge Kimberly A. Irving, is expected to last approximately seven weeks, potentially extending into November. Judge Irving previously denied defense requests on October 2, 2026, to postpone the trial and, on October 1, 2026, to limit discussions on domestic violence during jury selection and opening statements.
While direct live broadcasting of the proceedings is prohibited to protect the privacy and security of jury members, the court has permitted two cameras to record video clips and photographs for media use, as per an order issued on September 27, 2026.
Disappearance and Investigation
Mamata Kafle Bhatt, 28, was working as a nurse at Prince William Medical Center when she disappeared from her Manassas Park home in late July 2024. Her last known contacts included a phone call to a friend and a social media post featuring her daughter on July 28, followed by a video call with her mother the next day. She was not heard from again after July 29, 2024.
Concerns arose when Mamata failed to report for work. On August 2, 2024, police visited her home, where Naresh Bhatt reportedly told them she had gone to Texas or New York to visit family. Naresh himself reported Mamata missing on August 5, 2024. However, as the investigation progressed, police grew suspicious of Naresh.
Naresh Bhatt was arrested approximately one month after Mamata’s disappearance, initially on charges of concealing a body. In December 2024, he was formally charged with three felonies: first-degree murder, defiling a body, and concealing a body. He has remained in custody since his arrest.
Prosecution’s Case and Evidence
The prosecution alleges that Mamata died on July 30, 2024. Court documents indicate that investigators found bloodstains, confirmed to be Mamata’s DNA, in the master bedroom and an adjoining bathroom of the Bhatt family home. Evidence also suggested signs of a body being dragged.
Prosecutors plan to present a range of evidence, including Naresh Bhatt’s activities following the alleged time of death. This includes video footage and other proof showing him disposing of numerous trash bags, purchasing three knives on July 30, 2024, and cleaning supplies the following day, and disposing of waste in various locations, including a donation center. Investigators also found digital evidence from Naresh’s phone, revealing online searches about divorce and remarriage even before Mamata’s disappearance.
Furthermore, the prosecution intends to present a photograph Mamata sent to her brother in Nepal about a month before she vanished. The image reportedly showed her face bruised and swollen, which she allegedly sent as evidence in case something happened to her.
Community Response and Ongoing Questions
Following Mamata’s disappearance, the Nepali community in Manassas Park launched a search campaign, holding protests outside the police station and conducting their own search efforts. Mamata’s daughter, Nima, is currently being cared for by Mamata’s mother and brother, who traveled from Nepal in 2024 and plan to reside in the United States.
Naresh Bhatt has consistently maintained his innocence, denying any involvement in his wife’s death. Despite the absence of Mamata Kafle Bhatt’s body, the prosecution aims to secure a murder conviction based on the physical, digital, and circumstantial evidence collected. The full details of how Mamata was killed and where her body was hidden remain unknown.
