Indian Woman Killed by Ex-Boyfriend in Maryland; Suspect Flees to India
Indian Woman Killed by Ex-Boyfriend in Maryland; Suspect Flees to India
27-year-old Nikitha Godishala found stabbed in a Maryland apartment; ex-boyfriend charged with murder and reportedly fled to India, with the Indian embassy assisting the family.
A 27-year-old Indian woman, Nikitha Godishala, was found dead with stab wounds in a Maryland apartment, with police saying the killing appeared premeditated. The ex-boyfriend, Arjun Sharma, filed a missing person report on January 2 after last seeing her on New Year’s Eve and is now the prime suspect in the murder. He reportedly fled to India before authorities could detain him, prompting an international manhunt.
Godishala, who hails from Secunderabad, Telangana, had been living in Columbia, Maryland. She held a master’s degree in health information technology from the University of Maryland and worked as a data and strategy analyst at Vheda Health in Columbia, where she had joined in February 2025. She had recently been recognized with the company’s “All-In Award” for outstanding performance and had posted about stepping into 2026 with momentum.
The case timeline began with concerns raised after friends sought help locating her on social media. Investigators obtained a missing person report from Sharma, who later traveled back to India. Authorities discovered Godishala’s body at an apartment on Twin Rivers Road in Maryland City, with the Howard County police charging Sharma with first- and second-degree murder once the investigation progressed. An arrest warrant was issued, and Interpol was anticipated to issue a red notice to aid the search for him as the Indian embassy in the United States said it was assisting the family.
The case underscores the cross-border dimensions of crime and the ongoing collaboration between local police, federal agencies, and international partners to pursue justice for victims like Godishala.
