Who was Nikitha Godishala, Indian woman found murdered at her ex-boyfriend’s house in US?

Nikitha Godishala, a 27-year-old Indian woman, went missing on New Year’s Eve. Now days later her body was found with stab wounds in her former boyfriend’s apartment in Columbia, Maryland.

It was Arjun Sharma, Godishala’s ex, who filed a missing persons report on January 2, claiming that he last saw her at his apartment on New Year’s Eve. The police in Howard County, Columbia, have issued an arrest warrant for the 26-year-old Sharma, charging him with first and second-degree murder. He has reportedly fled to India.

Meanwhile, the Indian embassy in the United States said that it has been in contact with Godishala’s family and is providing all possible assistance to them.

More from Explainers

Hamas must disarm, Iran threat & more: Key takeaways from Trump and Netanyahu’s meeting in Florida Can the US really ‘run’ Venezuela and cash in on its oil riches?

Who was Nikitha Godishala?

Nikitha Godishala was a 27-year-old Indian who lived in Ellicott City in Howard County in Columbia. She completed her master’s degree in health information technology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Godishala was working as a data and strategy analyst at Vheda Health in Columbia, Maryland. She joined the company in February 2025 and was said to be a good performer. She received the “All-In Award” for her work.

“This award is a reminder of the purpose and responsibility I carry forward. I’m excited to continue contributing with intention, creativity, and that same ‘all-in’ energy that brought me here. Here’s to growing, building, and stepping into 2026 with momentum,” Godishala wrote in a LinkedIn post.

Before joining Vheda Health, she was working as a data analysis and visualisation specialist (technical advisor) at the Management Sciences for Health. Between June 2022 and May 2023, she was studying at the University of Maryland, reports NDTV.

Editor’s Picks

1

Who was Shivank Avasthi, the Indian student shot dead near Toronto University campus? 2

Who is Reuven Morrison? A father who was killed after hurling bricks at Bondi Beach gunman

Before moving to the US, Godishala worked and studied in India. She was employed with Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Hospitals as a clinical pharmacist intern for a year and a half. She then worked as a clinical data specialist for two years.

She studied pharmacy at the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in Hyderabad from June 2015 to September 2021 before moving to the US.

Godishala knew three languages – English, Hindi and Telugu – and was “driven by a passion for leveraging data-driven insights to optimise healthcare systems and improve patient outcomes”, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Godishala’s friends in the US said that she did not have any family there but remained well-connected with the Indian diaspora community. She had been living in the country for several years now.

According to her friends and family, they lost contact with the woman after 7 pm on December 31. They filed an online appeal after she went missing. “If you live in or around the Columbia area, please keep a lookout. If you have any information, no matter how small, please contact the Howard County Police Department,” it read.

“Nikitha does not have family in the United States, and her friends are desperately trying to locate her and gather any information that may help bring her home safely. This has been an incredibly difficult time, and we are relying on the strength and support of our community,” another post read.

Days later, Howard County Police found Godishala’s body with stab wounds inside Sharma’s flat following a search operation.

What do we know about the suspect, Arjun Sharma?

Arjun Sharma is now the prime suspect in his former girlfriend’s murder. The police have obtained an arrest warrant charging Sharma with both first and second-degree murder. They believe he killed Godishala shortly after 7 pm on December 31.

Howard County police said they are now working with federal law enforcement agencies to locate and arrest him. Police said that Sharma himself approached the authorities on January 2 to file a missing person report. He told officers that he last saw Godishala on December 31 at his apartment.

According to authortities, Sharma left the US for India after reporting Godishala missing.

“Arjun Sharma, 26, of Columbia, made the missing person report to police and said he last saw his ex-girlfriend, Nikitha Godishala, 27, of Ellicott City, on December 31 in his apartment in the 10100 block of Twin Rivers Road. Police later learned that on the same day as making the report, January 2, Sharma left the country on a flight to India. Detectives on January 3 executed a search warrant for his apartment and located Godishala deceased,” the police statement read.

#HoCoPolice located a woman reported missing on Jan. 2 deceased with stab wounds in the Columbia apartment of her ex-boyfriend and obtained a warrant for his arrest on first- and second-degree murder charges.https://t.co/RzEIWTUA8k

— Howard County Police Department (@HCPDNews) January 4, 2026

Authorities have stressed that the investigation is still ongoing and the motive has not been established. The police have not found the murder weapon.

What has the Indian embassy said?

The Indian embassy in Washington has stated that it has been in contact with the family of Godishala and are extending all possible consular assistance, while closely following the matter with local authorities.

The Embassy is in contact with the family of Ms. Nikitha Godishala and is extending all possible consular assistance. The Embassy is also following up the matter with the local authorities. @MEAIndia

— India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) January 4, 2026

Officials said cooperation between Indian and American authorities would continue to ensure that the matter is pursued in accordance with the law.

What happens next?

Godishala’s family has sought privacy as legal processes continue.

Investigators are examining all leads and working closely with the Indian embassy to ensure the family receives timely updates. Howard County Police are also collaborating with federal law enforcement agencies in the US to locate and apprehend Sharma.

Notably, the US and India have an extradition treaty that allows cooperation in serious criminal cases, though such proceedings usually involve court reviews and diplomatic coordination, often extending over months.

With inputs from agencies