Naresh Bhatt initially told police he did not know where his wife had gone. More than two years later, he admitted in court that he had dismembered her body.
On Tuesday, November 10, a Virginia jury found him guilty of murdering her.
His wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, disappeared from their Manassas Park home in July 2024. The young mother worked as a nurse, and her disappearance prompted a widespread search involving police, friends, and members of the local Nepalese community.
Her remains have never been found.
Naresh was convicted of first-degree murder, concealing a dead body, and defiling a dead body following a six-week trial.
Here are five things to know about his background and the case.
1. Naresh Bhatt Grew Up in Nepal
Naresh, 39, was born and raised in Nepal before moving to the United States.
During his trial, he described growing up in poverty, telling jurors that his family often struggled to afford food and lived in a home without heating or air conditioning. He married Mamta in 2020, and she moved to the United States the following year.
The couple eventually settled in Manassas Park, Virginia, where they were raising their daughter. Mamta, 28, worked as a registered nurse at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center in Manassas.
2. He Served in the U.S. Army Reserve
Before his arrest, Naresh spent nearly seven years in the U.S. Army Reserve.
According to Fox 5 DC, he served as an automated logistics specialist from June 2017 until February 2024 and left with the rank of specialist. He was never deployed.
Naresh also briefly worked toward becoming a police officer. In 2020, he joined the Fairfax County Police Department as a recruit but was dismissed after 22 days at its criminal justice academy.
The department said he failed to meet mandatory training requirements.
3. His Wife Disappeared in July 2024
Mamta was last seen at work on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Her family last heard from her during a video call on Monday, July 29. When she missed work, concerned colleagues contacted police. Investigators visited the couple’s home Friday, August 2, but Naresh initially declined to report her missing.
He suggested his wife might have traveled to New York or Texas.
Naresh eventually filed a missing persons report Monday, August 5.
Police arrested him Thursday, August 22, after finding evidence that raised suspicions about what had happened inside the home.
Their daughter was approaching her first birthday when Mamta disappeared.
4. Naresh Bhatt Admitted Dismembering His Wife’s Body
During his testimony in November 2026, Naresh acknowledged dismembering and disposing of Mamta’s remains.
However, he denied killing her.
According to WUSA9, he claimed he found his wife dead in their bedroom on Tuesday, July 30, after an apparent suicide involving pills and a toxic substance.
He testified that he unsuccessfully attempted to revive her before panicking and deciding to conceal her death.
Prosecutors challenged his account, presenting surveillance footage, phone records, and forensic evidence. Investigators also recovered a power saw containing material consistent with Mamta’s DNA profile.
The jury ultimately rejected his explanation.
5. He Faces a Possible Life Sentence
After approximately four hours of deliberations on Tuesday, November 10, jurors found Naresh guilty on all three charges.
According to CNN, he remained expressionless as the verdict was read.
Mamta’s family members were seen embracing in the courtroom following the decision.
Naresh faces 20 years to life in prison for first-degree murder, with up to five additional years for each of the charges involving his wife’s remains.
His sentencing is scheduled for Friday, March 12, 2027.
Although the trial has ended, one painful question remains unanswered for Mamta’s family: where her body was taken. More than two years after her disappearance, they have still been unable to bring her remains home for a funeral.
Who Is Naresh Bhatt? 5 Things to Know About the Virginia Man Convicted of Killing His Wife