Mamta Bhatt's husband is accused of hiding her body

The husband of a 28-year-old Virginia woman who has been missing for more than three weeks was arrested at the couple's home on Thursday and accused of hiding her body.

Naresh Bhatt has been charged with violating the prohibition on concealing a body in connection with the disappearance of his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, who was reported missing on August 5, Manassas Park officials said.

The missing woman was last seen on July 27 at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center in Manassas, where she worked as a nurse, and last spoke with a friend the following day, police said. Her husband claimed he last saw her on July 31.

Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo confirmed to ABC affiliate WJLA on Thursday that Mamta Bhatt was presumed dead.

Prosecutors speaking at her husband's arraignment on Friday alleged that Naresh Bhatt was seen at Walmart on July 30 purchasing a three-knife set and returned the next day to purchase cleaning supplies, WJLA reported.

Police said officers checked on the couple's welfare at the home on August 2 and spoke with Bhatt, but he did not want to report his wife missing at the time. The couple has a one-year-old daughter.

Prosecutors said he told police during their first visit that his wife was traveling to visit relatives in New York or Texas and destroyed her phone before leaving, according to WJLA. But investigators later learned that Mamta Bhatt had no relatives in those states, the newspaper said.

Naresh Bhatt finally reported his wife missing on August 5 and cooperated with the investigation from that point on, police said in a press release on August 15.

In an interview with WUSA9 last week, he said he last saw his wife at dinner on July 31 and described her as “a special person” who was “caring and loving.”

He told the outlet that she had disappeared three times before, but never for this long.

At a vigil for his wife on August 14, Naresh Bhatt told the crowd that he was “the one who is suffering” and pleaded with his wife to come back.

“Hey, just come back. It's me and my baby, we're waiting every second, every minute. If you're listening, we're here waiting for you. We need you,” he said.

According to WJLA, prosecutors said at Friday's arraignment that Bhatt sold his Tesla on August 19 and tried to sell his house.

Manassas Park officials said Thursday that detectives who searched the couple's home on Aug. 21 found additional evidence that led to their arrest. Investigators discovered a packed suitcase in the home and said Naresh Bhatt's “passport was available upon entry,” WJLA reported.

WJLA and NBC affiliate WRC-TV also reported, citing court documents, that investigators found pools of blood in the master bedroom that led to the bathroom. In the documents, investigators said they believed a body had been dragged through the house.

Authorities said additional charges could be brought against Naresh Bhatt as the investigation continues. The couple's daughter has been placed in the care of a social services-approved caregiver.

According to WJLA, Bhatt is scheduled to appear for a court hearing on October 24. His defense attorney said in court that there was neither enough evidence nor a confession to prove his guilt.

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