India Tribune Newsdesk
Columbia, MD: What began as a desperate search for a missing young woman in suburban Maryland has unfolded into a chilling murder investigation with international ramifications. Nikitha Godishala, a 27-year-old Indian-origin healthcare and data analytics professional living in Ellicott City, was found stabbed to death inside an apartment in Columbia, Maryland, owned by her former boyfriend, Arjun Sharma. Sharma, 26, is now facing charges of first- and second-degree murder and is believed to have fled the United States for India shortly after reporting her missing.
Concern for Godishala first surfaced on social media around New Year’s Eve, when friends and well-wishers shared posts urging the public to help locate her. The messages said she had gone missing on December 31 and asked residents in and around Columbia to remain vigilant. A formal missing person report was filed soon after.
On January 2, Sharma himself contacted Howard County police to report Godishala missing. He told investigators that he had last seen her on December 31 at his apartment in the 10100 block of Twin Rivers Road in Columbia. According to police, within hours of making that report, Sharma traveled to Dulles International Airport and boarded a flight to India.
The following day, on January 3, detectives executed a search warrant at Sharma’s apartment. Inside, they discovered Godishala’s body bearing stab wounds. Investigators now believe she was killed shortly after 7 p.m. on December 31, New Year’s Eve. Authorities have not publicly identified a motive, but police said information gathered from friends and family raised red flags that pointed toward foul play.
Howard County police spokesman Seth Hoffman said there were no prior calls for service or documented incidents involving the couple at the apartment. However, investigators believe it was not uncommon for the two to remain in contact and meet even after their relationship had ended. Hoffman noted that Sharma’s actions suggested planning, citing the sequence of reporting Godishala missing and then immediately leaving the country.
An arrest warrant was issued charging Sharma with both first- and second-degree murder. Local police are now working with U.S. federal law enforcement agencies and international partners to locate and arrest him. Interpol is expected to issue a Red Notice, which would alert authorities in nearly 200 countries, including India, to detain Sharma if located. Any potential extradition would involve legal proceedings and diplomatic coordination and could take months.
Godishala was a highly trained professional with an academic and career background spanning healthcare, pharmacy, and data analytics. She held a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in India and a master’s degree in Health Information Technology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Her expertise included clinical research, health information systems, regulatory compliance, and advanced data tools such as SQL, Tableau, Power BI, and Python.
Following reports of her death, the Indian Embassy in the United States confirmed it is in contact with Godishala’s family and is providing all possible consular assistance while coordinating with local authorities. As the investigation continues, police say their focus remains on bringing the suspect into custody and ensuring justice for a life cut tragically short.
(With the input of various news reports)
