The disappearance of 28-year-old Mamta Kafle from Virginia City, USA, has sent shockwaves among investigators, friends, and family, who are desperate for an answer. This recent case has gained attention because of the chilling sequence of events, advanced forensic techniques, and the suspicious behavior of her husband, Naresh Bhatt. Let‘s break down this riveting story step by step.
Mamta’s Mysterious Disappearance: The Beginning
On July 31, 2024, Mamta, 28-year-old nurse, and her husband Naresh Bhatt, 37-year-old ex-Army man, fought again. That night, Mamta slept in a different room, and Naresh stayed upstairs. The next morning, Naresh woke up to find their one-year-old daughter sleeping alone in the house, and his wife Mamta nowhere to be found. End.
Naresh had thought that Mamta being the jovial girl who often went to a friend‘s place whenever there was some friction between them, would ultimately return within days. So, he didn‘t bother. But on August 5, he filed a missing person report when Mamta failed to return home after five days.
Investigation Begins: Clues and Questions
The investigation showed that Mamta was last seen on July 27, 2024, after work, getting into a black sedan car. She had canceled her Uber ride, and the identity of the car owner remained unknown. Despite this, Mamta was alive on July 28, as she spoke to a colleague, and on July 29, she video-called her mother in Nepal.
Suspicion arose when Mamta’s phone became inactive on August 1. Preliminary inquiries revealed that Mamta hadn‘t gone to Nepal or visited any of her friends. The police had no leads, but the discovery of CCTV footage in Mamta’s neighborhood changed the course of the investigation.
A Shocking Twist: Forensic Evidence and Suspicion
The police, during the search at Naresh‘s residence with a sniffing dog, were alerted by the dog to the bedroom as it showed traces of a decomposing body. No body was recovered, but the forensic experts found blood traces in the bedroom and bathroom with the help of Blue Star spray technology. This advanced forensic tool traced dried bloodstains not visible to the naked eye.
The investigation indicated that a large pool of blood had been present in the bathroom and bedroom. Based on these findings, Naresh was arrested on suspicion of foul play. However, no physical body or incriminating evidence linked him to Mamta‘s death.
Courtroom Drama: Arguments and Counterarguments
The lawyer for Mamta claimed in court that Naresh was an abusive husband and had a history of mistreating her, as friends and family had confirmed. He cited the blood traces and other evidence, including the fact that Naresh had bought cleaning supplies on July 31, and there was CCTV footage of him disposing of garbage bags and a blood-stained bathroom mat.
The defense lawyer now claimed that the blood was due to Naresh‘s nosebleeds or even from animals, it was circumstantial evidence and did not confirm Mamta‘s death.
The prosecution also mentioned Naresh‘s suspicious Google search on July 30: “How many days after my wife dies am I allowed to remarry?” It raised suspicion over his intention, and thus police believed that Mamta might have been killed after a heated argument over divorce.
Theories and the Role of Forensic Technology
Police believe that on the intervening night of July 30, an altercation between Naresh and Mamta turned violent, resulting in her death. They suspect that Naresh might have concealed Mamta‘s body under the bed, cleaned up the blood, and disposed of the body in garbage bags. The forensic experts said the blood traces in the bathroom indicated dismembering of the body there.
Though Naresh apparently cleaned up the evidence of the crime with minute detailing, he had underestimated forensic technology, which brought out telling signs of evidence. Detectives are also investigating whether the cellphone of Mamta was thrown into a river, as on August 1, Naresh was seen near the banks of a river.
A Case Still Unsolved
While Mamta’s daughter has been placed in the care of her grandmother in Nepal, Naresh is without bail. With each step taken by the police in investigating this crime, the mystery in Mamta‘s disappearance becomes thicker. This case demonstrates that forensic technology has been important in unearthing secreted truths and meting out justice.
