And Then They Were Gone

In July 2024, 28-year-old Mamta Kafle had a baby who was about to have her first birthday, a new job as a Med-Surg Nurse, an upcoming appointment to become a U.S. citizen, and a husband who was ready to move on with his life. 
It is that desire, prosecutors contend, that led Naresh Bhatt to murder his wife, Mamta Kafle. After telling friends, family, police, and the public that his wife simply decided to run off, Bhatt was arrested in connection with her murder on August 22, 2024.
Since then, there have been multiple hearings and multiple delays, but on October 5, 2026, he finally went on trial for the murder of Mamta Kafle. I’ve been in the courtroom since the very beginning, and today, we’re bringing you part one of the trial of Naresh Bhatt.
If you have any information regarding Mamta Kafle's disappearance, you are asked to contact the Manassas Park Police Department at 703-361-1136. This phone number is monitored 24 hours a day. If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact the Manassas/Manassas Park Crime Solvers at 703-330-0330.
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This episode was originally released on December 15, 2024
The last time Mamta Kafle spoke to anyone outside of her home was the evening July 29, 2024, when she had a video call with her mother in Nepal. When her mom called Mamta back the next morning at around 11 am, her call went unanswered. According to prosecutors in Prince William County, Virginia, that is because Mamta was dead.
Mamta’s husband, Naresh Bhatt, claimed she had taken off, leaving both him and their 11-month-old daughter behind. After weeks of public outcry, and multiple search warrants, Naresh Bhatt was arrested on August 22, 2024 on the charge of concealing a dead body.
Over the next several months, there were hearings in which the prosecution detailed a horrific case against Bhatt: one that involved him killing his 28-year-old wife in their Manassas Park home and disposing of her body. Then, on December 2, new evidence led prosecutors to charge Bhatt with two more crimes: Defiling a Dead Body and First Degree Murder. Now Naresh awaits trial, while the community wonders if he’ll ever reveal where Mamta is.
If you have any information regarding Mamta Kafle's disappearance, you are asked to contact the Manassas Park Police Department at 703-361-1136. This phone number is monitored 24 hours a day. If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact the Manassas/Manassas Park Crime Solvers at 703-330-0330.
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This episode was originally released on August 30, 2024
Today’s story is one about intimate partner violence. According to her family, friends, and police and court records, Mamta Kafle’s husband, Naresh Bhatt, was abusing her. He hid her documents, destroyed her phone, threatened to give their baby to social services, and physically abused her. Throughout it all, Mamta remained a kind, caring friend and a mother whose baby was her entire world. But then, sometime between July 29 and July 30, 2024, she disappeared.
Now, her husband is sitting in jail awaiting trial on the charge of concealing a dead body. We first covered Mamta’s case, which is local to us, two weeks ago. But we’ve learned a lot since then. This week, we’re updating you on the case of Manassas Park, Virginia mom, Mamta Kafle.
Anyone who has information on Mamta Kafle's disappearance, or her husband Naresh Bhatt's actions between July 29 and August 3 is asked to contact Manassas Park Police at 703.361.1136 or email c.ventura@manassasparkva.gov.
If you or someone you know is experiencing intimate partner violence, there are resources for you to get help. The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides 24/7 confidential support, safety planning, and referrals to local resources. Call 1-800-799-7233, or text 'START" TO 8878. You can also visit their website at TheHotline.org.
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This episode originally aired on August 16, 2024
On August 2, 2024, Manassas Park Police visited the Virginia home that Mamta Kafle shared with her husband, Naresh Bhatt. They were there to perform a welfare check because Mamta didn’t show up to work at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center on August 1, and her colleagues were concerned.
Naresh allegedly told police that Mamta had disappeared before, and that he didn’t want to file a missing persons report. Three days later, on August 5, Naresh reported his wife missing, but Manassas Park Police didn’t make this public until August 8. Since then, the community has banded together to do ground searches, hold vigils, press conferences, and even visit the Nepal embassy, all in hopes of finding out what happened to Mamta Kafle.
If you have any information regarding Mamta Kafle's disappearance, you are asked to contact the Manassas Park Police Department at 703-361-1136. This phone number is monitored 24 hours a day. If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact the Manassas/Manassas Park Crime Solvers at 703-330-0330.
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Buy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came Home
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* Check out Aramore and use my code ATTWG for a great deal: https://aramoreskincare.com
* Check out Cure Hydration and use my code ATTWG for a great deal: https://www.curehydration.com
* Check out Quince and use my code ATTWG for a great deal: https://www.quince.com
* Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code ATTWG20 for a great deal: https://www.trudiagnostic.com
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When Ron Lieberman couldn’t find his wife, 31-year-old Sneha Philip on September 11, 2001, he didn’t think that her disappearance had anything to do with the attacks. After all, he had been home the night before, and she wasn’t there. But their apartment was just a seven-minute walk from the World Trade Center, and Sneha was a doctor. Could she have been nearby that morning and rushed in to help the victims?
This question became the basis of a years-long legal battle to get Sneha recognized as one of the victims of 9/11. Will new technology finally be able to provide proof that Sneha was there that morning?
If you have any information about the disappearance of Dr. Sneha Anne Philip, please contact the NYPD Missing Persons Squad at 212-694-7781. Tips can be kept anonymous. You can also call NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
Subscribe to Day by Day: True Crime Stories
Buy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came Home
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Our Sponsors:
* Check out Aramore and use my code ATTWG for a great deal: https://aramoreskincare.com
* Check out Cure Hydration and use my code ATTWG for a great deal: https://www.curehydration.com
* Check out Quince and use my code ATTWG for a great deal: https://www.quince.com
* Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code ATTWG20 for a great deal: https://www.trudiagnostic.com
* Check out Vinted: https://www.vinted.com

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