Mamta Kafle death case: Husband Naresh Bhatta claims innocence, presents circumstantial evidence for the prosecution

VIRGINIA:- Naresh Bhatta, a resident of Manassas Park, Virginia, faces serious charges of murdering his wife, Mamata Kafle Bhatta, and dismembering her body.

The hearing for the murder case concerning this matter entered its fourth week on Monday.

Prosecutors continue to present various pieces of evidence and witnesses in court to further strengthen their case against Naresh. To date, Mamata’s body has not been found.

However, since the commencement of the trial, the jury members have heard testimony from 56 witnesses. In addition, they have conducted an in-depth review of hours of surveillance camera footage, police interviews, and evidence collected from the crime scene.

This evidence includes stains resembling blood found inside the couple’s home, as well as video footage allegedly showing Naresh Bhatta disposing of bags of trash in various dumpsters.

Naresh Bhatta has denied all charges against him—including first-degree murder, concealing a body, and tampering with a body—and maintains that he is innocent.

During a hearing on Monday morning, Daniel Maxfield, a crime scene investigator with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, provided testimony. He informed the court about evidence collected in August 2024 from clothing donation bins located outside a gas station in Chantilly.

Maxfield informed the court that the Manassas Park Police had requested his assistance in examining two donation bins located at the Liberty Gas Station on Little River Turnpike. According to his testimony, investigators discovered several trash bags inside one of the bins, filled with items such as clothing, shoes, and bath mats.

Maxfield further explained that he photographed, collected, and packaged these items, subsequently handing them over to a Manassas Park Police detective for further investigation.

Similarly, Alexander Cordner, who has served as a crime scene investigator with the Prince William County Police Department for thirteen years, also provided his statement. He stated that he assisted during the search of the Bhatta couple’s home, which took place on August 21 and 22, 2024.

Cordner stated that he conducted a test on a trash container found in the garage—suspecting it might contain blood—using a chemical substance called ‘Bluestar.’ Upon application of the chemical, a bright blue reaction appeared in several places both inside and outside the container.

He stated that investigators subsequently collected evidence from the scene and sent it to a forensic laboratory for official testing. Lawyers for the defendant, however, questioned the reliability of this testing.

In response, Cordner acknowledged that the chemical ‘Bluestar’ can react with substances other than blood, and that it cannot definitively confirm—with 100% certainty—that a substance is indeed blood. He noted that this was merely a preliminary blood test.

When asked about the fact that some police officers had entered the bedroom and touched furniture without wearing gloves—even before the crime scene processing was complete—Cordner confirmed this by saying “yes.”

Crime scene investigator Joseph Restino took the witness stand again and testified about a silver-colored hairbrush that had been collected from Bhatta’s home during the investigation. Restino stated that the brush was found on a pull-out shelf of an entertainment unit located near the kitchen.

Near the brush, there were also medicine containers bearing the name of Mamata Kafle Bhatt. He informed the court that the brush contained black, hair-like strands, and investigators believe these could provide DNA evidence belonging to Mamata Kafle Bhatt.

Defense attorneys questioned whether the brush actually belonged to Mamata. Restino acknowledged that he did not know for certain whose brush it was.

In addition to this, Restino showed the jury members a container of carpet-cleaning liquid that had been collected as evidence. He noted that the container was nearly empty.

Officer Stephen Axendine, a nine-year veteran of the Manassas Park Police Department, provided a statement regarding his contributions to the investigation into the disappearance of Mamata Kafle Bhatt, as well as several significant developments in the case. Axendine disclosed that Naresh Bhatt sold his Tesla vehicle to CarMax on August 16, 2024.

Later, investigators recovered the vehicle from a location in Sterling and sent it for forensic testing. He also spoke about evidence recovered from clothing donation bins in Chantilly, where a white trash bag and a bath mat—which appeared to be stained with blood—were found.

Investigators also discovered a piece of traditional Nepali clothing that appeared similar to one worn by Mamata Kafle Bhatt in photos on social media. However, Oxendine stated that it is not clear whether the clothing actually belongs to her.

He also revealed that, suspecting Mamata might have left the country, he contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in August 2024 and requested that they keep an eye out for any information regarding her. He clarified that ICE provided no indication that Mamata had left the country.

Oxendine also stated that investigators discovered an address in Baltimore through data obtained from Naresh Bhatt’s mobile phone via a search warrant. Following his statement, Deputy Thomas Wheeler of the Manassas Park Police was called in for further questioning.

He also stated that he learned about the Baltimore address through cell phone data. However, no further details regarding this address were disclosed in court.

The most significant revelation during Monday’s hearing came from Andrea Feldman, the lead crime scene investigator on the case. She testified about what was discovered when she examined a green Ryobi-brand saw that had been collected as evidence.

Feldman stated that she discovered reddish-brown stains on the saw and expressed her belief that these stains could be blood. Additionally, several hair-like fibers, measuring approximately one to two inches in length, were also found there.

She revealed in her statement that the suspicious blood was primarily found near the handle and the vent of the saw, while the fibers were concentrated on the front and middle sections of the blade. She further stated that she had handed over the entire tool to the Department of Forensic Science with the intention of expediting the investigation.

She also informed the court about suspicious bloodstains found on window blinds recovered from the couple’s bedroom closet, as well as on white trash bags collected from the donation bins at Chantilly.

Speaking in reference to the blue Tesla car sold by Naresh Bhatt in August 2024, Feldman stated that the vehicle was found in a very thoroughly cleaned condition. Investigators did not discover any significant evidence inside the car, and a Bluestar test yielded no positive reaction indicative of the possible presence of blood.

Similarly, Mark Matthew Hernandez, a member of The Home Depot’s corporate security investigation team, provided a statement regarding the purchase of a Ryobi-brand saw, along with its blade and battery kit, from the Fairfax store on June 2, 2024. Hernandez had reviewed the store receipt and surveillance camera footage.

In the footage, an individual resembling Naresh Bhatt was seen carrying a saw, batteries, and blades inside the Home Depot located at Price Club Plaza. After Mamta went missing, Naresh gave the saw to a landscaper, who later handed it over to the police. When asked whether the saw could be used to dismember a human body, Hernandez replied, “I think so.”

Wayne Martin, Superintendent of the Public Works Department for the City of Manassas Park, testified regarding an unusual spike in water consumption at Bhatta’s residence on July 31, 2024. According to data presented by Martin in court, approximately 160 gallons of water were used within a span of just two hours that day.

During this period, more than 111 gallons of water were consumed between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM alone. Data indicated that, under normal circumstances, water consumption at Bhatta’s residence typically ranged from two to thirty gallons per hour.

Describing such a high volume of water usage as extraordinary for a residential home, Martin likened the situation to either ‘leaving a faucet running wide open’ or a ‘serious plumbing issue.’ He further clarified that this level of water consumption does not align with typical personal use.

However, since water consumption returned to normal levels within the next hour, he did not suspect any plumbing issues at the house. During cross-examination, the defense attorneys pointed out that Martin had never visited the property to check for leaking pipes or potential problems with the sprinkler system.

Martin acknowledged that he had examined water consumption records for only about a month, rather than a full year’s worth of data.

Ashish Sangroula—a member of the local Nepali community, a former military officer, and a real estate professional—also appeared in court on Monday. He provided testimony regarding his relationship with Naresh Bhatt, as well as his concerns concerning Naresh’s marital life with Mamata Kafle Bhatt.

Sangroula recalled going to UVA Hospital after receiving a call from Mamata Kafle Bhatt. He stated that, at the time, Naresh Bhatt was there receiving medical treatment.

In his statement, Sangroula mentioned that while helping Naresh leave the hospital, he noticed the smell of alcohol coming from him. Additionally, he recalled seeing a Facebook post from 2024 in which Naresh thanked Mamata for “ruining” his life.

Sangroula stated that the post appeared to be satirical and was subsequently removed. Following the post, Sangroula and another friend met with Naresh at Starbucks to ask him what was going on.

According to Sangroula, during this meeting, Naresh admitted that there were marital issues between them and that arguments frequently occurred at home. Sangroula also informed the court that on the night of August 4, 2024, he attempted to call Naresh multiple times but was unable to reach him.

Naresh returned his call the following morning. Sangroula stated that he had questioned Naresh as to why he did not notify the police or friends when Mamata went missing. During cross-examination by the defense attorneys, Sangroula admitted that he had never personally witnessed any violent behavior between Naresh and Mamata. Sangroula also clarified that he had no contact with Mamata Kafle Bhatta since 2024.

On Monday afternoon, Daniel Charles Moore—a former Navy official with twenty years of service who works in the White House Military Office—provided further significant testimony. He informed the court about Google searches Naresh Bhatt had conducted from his work account approximately three months before his wife went missing.

Moore had been tasked with reviewing Naresh Bhatt’s search history from January to August 2024. During this process, he identified several concerning searches.

According to Moore, on April 12, 2024, Naresh searched Google for terms such as “what happens to a deceased spouse’s debt,” “how long does it take to remarry after a spouse’s death,” “how long to wait before marrying after a spouse dies,” and “New Year’s greeting messages for a girlfriend.”

When asked by the prosecution why Naresh might have searched for information regarding the time required to remarry following the death of a spouse, Moore replied, “This is not a good sign.” Moore presented evidence showing that Naresh had also searched Google for travel routes, various locations, and even his own name.

During cross-examination by the defense, Moore acknowledged that, as he had not been standing behind Naresh Bhatt while the searches were being conducted, he could not state with absolute certainty who had actually typed those queries.

Deepa Oli, the wife of Ashish Sangroula—who had previously provided a statement—also appeared in court on Monday to give her testimony. She spoke about the troubled marital life of the Bhatta couple during the months leading up to Mamata Kafle Bhatta’s disappearance.

Oli stated that she became aware of the couple’s marital issues in February 2024 and, out of concern, reached out to Mamata. According to Oli’s account, during a conversation with the couple, Naresh Bhatta expressed that he no longer wished to continue his relationship with Mamata.

She clarified that while Naresh cited the arguments between them as the reason, he did not provide any specific examples.

Overall, the prosecution has portrayed Naresh Bhatt as an abusive husband. They claim that he has provided inconsistent explanations regarding his wife’s disappearance.

Presenting evidence of excessive water consumption, prosecutors have sought to convince the jury that Naresh Bhatt murdered his wife, dismembered her body, and subsequently cleaned the house. Mamata Bhatt was last seen during a video call on July 29, 2024.

She went missing just a few weeks before her daughter’s first birthday, and the police have not been able to locate her body.

Based on circumstantial evidence, prosecutors in Prince William County are working to strengthen their case against 39-year-old Naresh Bhatt. The trial for this high-profile case is being heard before Circuit Court Judge Kimberly Irving.