Authorities in Virginia are ramping up their search efforts for Mamta Kafle, a mother and pediatric nurse who has been missing for just more than two weeks.
Kafle, who has an 11-month-old child, was last seen on July 31 in Manassas Park, about 30 miles outside of Washington, D.C, according to the City of Manassas Park Police Department. She failed to show up to work at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center the following day, police said.
Officers responded to Kafle’s home on Aug. 2 after her co-workers expressed their concerns. Kafle’s husband, Naresh Bhatt, officially reported her missing on Aug. 5.
“It’s very tough,” Naresh Bhatt told WUSA9 Wednesday afternoon. He said they ate dinner together the night she was last seen.
“She did not come back and I just searched around,” he said. “The next day, police came and police told me she was not at work and I was very serious because she’s the one who would never leave her work.”
Authorities said they believe Kafle is “involuntarily” missing, given the length of time she’s gone without contacting family or friends.
“Investigators have conducted several follow-ups with neighbors, friends, co-workers and the husband,” police said in a statement. “The investigators are also utilizing several investigative tools to help in an attempt to locate Mamta Kafle.”
Over the weekend, Kafle’s friend and former roommate, Nadia Navarro, launched a Facebook page dedicated to providing updates about the case.
“Mamta is not an impulsive person, she’s a very responsible person, she’s a very calm person,” Navarro told WUSA9. “So to hear, that she might be missing, I really doubt she would run away.”
Kafle is 5 feet tall, weighs 132 pounds and has black hair and dark brown eyes, police said. She was last seen wearing blue scrubs. Anyone with information about Kafle or her whereabouts have been asked to call the Manassas Park Police Department.