A 27-year-old Indian healthcare professional was found stabbed to death inside an apartment in the US state of Maryland, prompting American authorities to launch an international manhunt for her former partner, who left the country for India shortly after reporting her missing.
According to Howard County Police, Nikitha Godishala, a resident of Ellicott City, was discovered dead on January 3 inside an apartment in Columbia owned by her ex-boyfriend, Arjun Sharma, 26. Sharma, also an Indian national, is now wanted on charges of first- and second-degree murder. Investigators have confirmed that he departed the United States for India on January 2, hours after filing a missing person report.
Police officials stated that Sharma informed authorities that Godishala had gone missing on January 2 and claimed he last saw her on December 31 at his apartment located in the 10100 block of Twin Rivers Road. Subsequent inquiries revealed that Sharma boarded a flight to India later that same day, raising suspicion during the investigation.
Detectives executed a search warrant at the apartment on January 3, where Godishala’s body was found with multiple stab wounds. Law enforcement officials believe the killing occurred shortly after 7 p.m. on December 31, New Year’s Eve. The investigation remains active, and officials have stated that no motive has been established at this stage.
Following the discovery, Howard County Police obtained an arrest warrant charging Sharma with both first-degree and second-degree murder. In an official statement, the department said it is coordinating with United States federal law enforcement agencies to locate and apprehend the suspect. Efforts are underway to trace Sharma’s movements after his arrival in India.
First-degree murder under American law involves intent and premeditation, while second-degree murder applies to intentional killings without evidence of prior planning.
Godishala was described as a highly qualified healthcare and data analytics professional. Her academic and professional background spanned pharmacy, clinical research, health information technology and data management. According to her publicly available LinkedIn profile, she focused on applying data-driven solutions to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
She held a Master’s degree in Health Information Technology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in India. Her professional expertise included healthcare analytics, regulatory compliance, dashboard development and healthcare quality systems. She was proficient in tools such as SQL, Tableau, Power BI and Python and had experience working with healthcare regulations including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Authorities noted that the United States and India share an extradition treaty, which allows cooperation in serious criminal cases. However, such proceedings typically involve judicial scrutiny and diplomatic coordination and may take several months to conclude.
Police said further updates would be shared as the investigation progresses.
