The jailed husband of a missing Virginia mom searched online about remarrying "after (a) spouse dies" before she mysteriously vanished, prosecutors alleged in court.
Naresh Bhatt, 37, of Manassas Park, Virginia, was ordered held without bond on a charge of concealing a dead body in connection with the disappearance of his 28-year-old wife Mamta Bhatt, a Prince County Court judge ruled this week.
Bhatt has not yet entered a plea to the charge.
During the suspect's Monday court hearing, prosecutors revealed Bhatt allegedly probed the internet for an answer to the question: "How long does it take to get married after a spouse dies?" according to the Washington Post.
"The amount of blood in that master bedroom and bathroom is indicative of injuries that are not survivable," prosecutor Sarah Sami alleged, the outlet reported. "Every indication in this case is that Mamta is no longer alive. And the commonwealth can pursue a homicide charge without a body."
Defense attorneys argued police's decision to arrest Bhatt and pin the alleged crime on him without a body stemmed from the mounting public pressure on law enforcement to act.
"This particular statute requires that there is a dead body. What they have, to be clear, is blood," senior assistant public defender Shalev Ben-Avraham, shot back. Bhatt "was arrested because there is a huge media frenzy. The chief of the Manassas Park police is under pressure to do something."
NEW TODAY: Prosecutors revealed the Secret Service came forward w/ new evidence in the case, alleging Naresh Bhatt made these Google searches:
— Randi Bass (@RandiBonTV) August 26, 2024
“how long to marry after spouse dies” &
“what happen debt after spouse dies”
These new details shocked Mamta’s friends today @DCNewsNow pic.twitter.com/xKQHetFs8n
Mamta's loved ones criticized the new allegations regarding Bhatt's damning internet searches indicate the young mom's purported murder was planned.
"We are not the judge or the jury," Mamta's friend, Holly Wirth, told reporters outside the courthouse, "but it does sound like there's indication of premeditation. The Google searches made it clear that in April, Mr. Bhatt was looking to see 'how soon can I remarry after my spouse dies?'"
Friends alleged Mamta was previously a victim of domestic abuse at the hands of Bhatt, but no charges were ever pursued, according to the Post.
Bhatt was arrested Thursday, three weeks after Mamta was last seen alive, following a search of the couple's home during which traces of blood were allegedly found by investigators.
According to a GoFundMe, the Bhatts share a 1-year-old daughter.
