Indian-origin man indicted for wife's murder in US, googled when he could remarry

A 37-year-old Indian-origin man has been indicted in the US on murder charges four months after his wife's disappearance. According to court records, Naresh Bhatt googled “How long does it take to get married after spouse dies” months before his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, went missing.

Mamta Kafle Bhatt was a 28-year-old nurse and mother of a young daughter.

Naresh Bhatt, a resident of Manassas Park, Virginia, also faces charges of defiling and concealing a body, as per Prince William County court records.

Bhatt, a former Fairfax County police recruit and US Army Reserve logistics specialist, is set to appear in court Tuesday to be formally charged.

Bhatt was arrested on August 22, and he was denied bail in September.

Authorities confirmed Monday evening that DNA tests identified blood found in the couple’s home as belonging to Mamta, supporting investigators' belief that she was killed on July 29.

Investigators uncovered substantial evidence during a search of the couple’s home. Blood pooling and splatter were found in the main bedroom, as well as pink stains on the carpet. More blood was discovered in the bathroom, indicating something had been "dragged across the floor".

Investigators also discovered that Bhatt had purchased knives from a Walmart the day he allegedly killed his wife.

Additionally, Bhatt was captured on surveillance video disposing of trash bags in dumpsters and compactors during the days following his wife's disappearance, reported CNN.

"From the beginning, we believed that she was murdered... based on the crime scene," said Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo during a news conference, reported CNN. He added that the evidence suggests her body was dismembered. “I feel we have a strong case.”

Mamta a beloved member of the Nepalese community, was last seen on July 27 at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center in Manassas, where she worked as a registered nurse.

Mamta worked two days a week at the hospital and was expected to work on August 1 and 2.

Coworkers raised concerns after she missed shifts at the hospital on August 1 and 2, prompting police to conduct a wellness check at the couple’s home on August 2.

At that time, Bhatt declined to report his wife missing. Three days later, on August 5, he officially reported her disappearance, claiming he last saw her at dinner on July 31.

Bhatt was arrested on August 22 following a search of the home. He has been held without bail since September after a judge denied his release.