Husband of missing Virginia nurse faces murder trial without a body
Naresh Bhatt is on trial in Prince William County for the alleged murder of his wife, nurse Mamta Kafle Bhatt, whose remains have never been found.
Mamta Kafle Bhatt, a Nepali-born nurse who worked at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center, disappeared from her Virginia home in July 2024. Her husband, Naresh Bhatt, was arrested in August and now faces first-degree murder, defiling, and concealment charges in Prince William County Circuit Court. Prosecutors present forensic evidence, including blood that matches Kafle's DNA and video footage of Bhatt handling trash bags, buying gloves and knives, and moving a power saw that later tested positive for the victim's DNA.
The defense contends that the evidence is largely circumstantial, cites possible miscommunication due to language differences, and questions the integrity of the crime-scene handling. A 17-member jury was seated earlier, and the trial is expected to last several weeks, with a verdict possible by late November.
Why it matters
The case highlights challenges of prosecuting murder without a body and draws attention to domestic violence concerns in immigrant communities.
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