Husband named person of interest in disappearance of Manassas Park woman Mamta Kafle
UPDATE: Husband of missing Manassas Park woman charged with concealing a dead body
MANASSAS PARK, Va. - -----------------------------
After executing a search warrant at the home of a missing Manassas Park woman, police announced Wednesday that Mamta Kafle's husband is a person of interest.
City of Manassas Park Chief of Police Mario Lugo told reporters that Kafle's husband, Naresh Bhatt, is not cooperating with the investigation.
WATCH: Husband of missing Manassas Park woman Mamta Kafle led out of home in handcuffs
"Our investigators have executed over 10 search warrants and conducted hundreds of interviews related to this case. This includes the search warrant that we executed this evening," Chief Lugo said. "My staff continues to work tirelessly and follow up every lead. We have received hundreds of leads on this case."
Lugo also mentioned that detectives have had several meetings with the Nepalese community, and they will continue to have those on a weekly [or daily] basis.
The police department is currently receiving help with forensics, Lugo added.
Earlier in the day, neighbors noticed a heavy police presence at the home.
FOX 5 has been following the search for 28-year-old Mamta Kafle for weeks. The young mother was last seen at her home in Manassas Park on July 31.
Since then, police, family and members of the community have been searching tirelessly for her.
Manassas Park Police say their investigation into her disappearance began on Aug. 2 when one of Kafle's co-workers asked officers to conduct a welfare check after she did not show up for her shift at the hospital.
RELATED: Family, community continue desperate search for missing Manassas woman
When police arrived at the home, her husband said she wasn't missing. Then, days later, on Aug 5, he decided to report her missing when she still hadn't come home.
When asked why he waited to report her missing, Bhatt told FOX 5 he thought he was following the instructions of police when they spoke Friday and that he reported it once efforts to find her had been exhausted.
Bhatt told FOX 5’s Nana Sento-Bonsu that the experience has been an emotional rollercoaster.
"I’m really tired. Tired, exhausted – physically, mentally, economically. I’m suffering," he said. "I’m suffering a lot."
FOX 5 is working to learn more about why police surrounded the home and blocked off roads Wednesday afternoon. Check back for updates.