From Army Service to White House Work
Naresh Bhatt moved from Nepal to the United States as an adult, joined the Army Reserve, and became a naturalized citizen in 2017. He later joined the White House staff as a government contractor with top-secret clearance. In 2024, his wife, Kafle, died under circumstances that led to a first-degree murder case. Prosecutors also charged Bhatt with defiling and concealing a dead body. The case centers on what happened after he found his wife unresponsive and what he did instead of contacting emergency services.
Bhatt’s Account of the Bedroom
Bhatt testified that he found Kafle lying on her back in the primary bedroom when he went to use the en-suite bathroom. He said she had vomit on her and on the floor, with pills and open pesticide containers nearby. He claimed he tried to revive her for 45 minutes to an hour, then moved her to the bathroom and tried to give her water. He said she never responded or breathed during that time. Asked why he did not call 911, Bhatt said he panicked and still could not explain the decision, despite saying he had completed more than 3,500 hours of meditation.
The Home Depot Trip
Bhatt said he called a babysitter to watch the couple’s child before driving to Home Depot. There, he obtained gloves, a saw, and plastic bags. He testified that he dismembered and disposed of Kafle’s body over the next day to day-and-a-half, using trash cans at their home. His account was that he reduced the size of the remains, placed them in bags, and put them in the trash. That testimony presented jurors with a grave question: if he believed his wife had died from an accident or illness, why did he hide her remains instead of calling for help?
The Jury Rejects His Innocence Claim
Bhatt pleaded not guilty and maintained that he did not kill his wife. During his testimony, several jurors appeared unconvinced. Some rolled their eyes, and one juror was heard laughing at something he said. His attorney also asked whether he had begun experiencing mental health symptoms, but the defense did not persuade the jury. Bhatt was found guilty on all counts, including first-degree murder, defiling a dead body, and concealing a dead body. The verdict closes the trial, but it cannot undo the loss suffered by Kafle’s family or the disturbing treatment of her remains.
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