Maryland (Rajeev Sharma): US authorities are searching for a 26-year-old man suspected of killing his former girlfriend, an Indian woman whose disappearance earlier this month had triggered a police search in Maryland. Investigators believe the suspect fled to India shortly after the crime.
The victim, 27-year-old Nikitha Godishala of Ellicott City, was reported missing on January 2. Howard County Police confirmed on Sunday that her body was discovered inside an apartment in Columbia, Maryland, linked to her ex-boyfriend, Arjun Sharma. Officials said she had suffered multiple stab injuries.
Following the discovery, police obtained an arrest warrant against Sharma on charges of first- and second-degree murder. Authorities allege that the killing occurred on the evening of December 31, shortly after 7 pm.
According to investigators, Sharma was the person who initially contacted police to report Godishala missing, stating that he had last seen her at his apartment on New Year’s Eve. However, police later found that Sharma had boarded an international flight to India on January 2, the same day he filed the report.
Detectives executed a search warrant at the Columbia apartment on January 3, where Godishala’s body was found. Based on the timeline and evidence collected, police believe the crime took place before Sharma left the country.
The Indian Embassy in Washington, DC, acknowledged the incident and said it is in touch with the victim’s family. In a message posted on X, the embassy said it is providing consular assistance and is coordinating with local authorities in the United States.
Howard County Police said the investigation is continuing and that a motive has not yet been established. Federal law enforcement agencies have joined the case to help locate Sharma and facilitate his arrest through international channels.
Officials have urged anyone with information related to the case to come forward as efforts continue to bring the suspect into custody.
