THE husband of a missing mom has been taken into police custody as cops search the family’s home.
Mamta Kafle Bhatt, 28, hasn’t contacted her friends or family since she was last seen on July 31.
Her husband, Naresh Bhatt, was handcuffed and put in a police car on Thursday morning after investigators searched the couple’s home on Wednesday, according to local ABC affiliate WJLA.
Video showed police taking Naresh away a day after Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo said at a press conference that he was “not cooperating” in the search.
Lugo also confirmed on Wednesday that Naresh is a person of interest in his wife’s disappearance.
Naresh reported his wife missing on August 5 – three days after cops first responded to the family’s home in Manassas Park, Virginia, which is about 30 miles from Washington, DC.
WELFARE CHECK
Police first visited the house after Mamta’s co-workers asked them to do a welfare check since the pediatric nurse didn’t show up to work at the hospital.
When officers first came to the house, Naresh told them that she wasn’t missing.
“Our investigators have executed over 10 search warrants and conducted hundreds of interviews related to this case, including the search warrant executed this evening,” Lugo said.
“My staff continues to work tirelessly and follow up on every lead. We have received hundreds of leads on this case.”
Cops put up police tape around the house as they searched inside the home. A van can be seen parked in the driveway.
Footage from the scene showed investigators walking around the property, which is near a wooded area.
The couple’s daughter turned one on Tuesday without her mom there.
During the search, the child was carried out of the house covered in a blanket, according to WJLA. It’s unclear who she is with now.
Police have not confirmed if Naresh was arrested or why he was put in handcuffs.
HUSBAND IS ‘EXHAUSTED’
Last week, Naresh told local NBC affiliate WRC-TV that he was busy taking care of the couple’s daughter.
“The main message, I need my wife, my baby’s mom, back,” Naresh said.
TIMELINE OF MAMTA'S DISAPPEARANCE
Manassas Park mom Mamta Kafle Bhatt has been missing since July 31.
July 27– Mamta was last seen at her job as a pediatric nurse at the UVA Health Prince William Medical Center
July 28– Mamta spoke to her friend
July 31– Naresh last saw Mamta
August 2 – Mamta’s co-workers called a welfare check to her house. Police spoke to Naresh, who didn’t want to report her as missing
August 5 – Naresh officially reported Mamta as missing
August 21 – Police searched Mamta and Naresh’s home. Naresh is named as a person of interest as cops said he’s not cooperating with police
August 22– Naresh was handcuffed and taken into police custody
“I’m worried about a lot of stuff, yes,” he added when reporters asked if he was concerned about his wife’s wellbeing.
He told local Fox affiliate WTTG that he waited the three days to report Mamta’s disappearance because police told him to exhaust all options in the search before reporting it.
“I’m really tired,” he told the outlet.
“Tired, exhausted – physically, mentally, economically. I’m suffering, suffering a lot.”
Mamta was last seen at her job on July 27, police said. She spoke to a friend on July 28 and was last seen by her husband on July 31.
Cops said her credit cards, bank statements, and phone have shown no activity since she disappeared.
