US Crime
From missing report to murder charges: Indian-origin woman found dead in ex-boyfriend’s apartment in US
An Indian-origin woman who went missing on New Year’s Eve was found dead with stab wounds inside the apartment of her ex-boyfriend in Columbia, Maryland, US, police said.
The deceased has been identified as Nikitha Godishala, 27, a resident of Ellicott City.
Authorities suspect her ex-boyfriend, Arjun Sharma, 26, of Columbia, in connection with the killing.
In a statement, the Howard County Police Department said officers located the woman, who had been reported missing on January 2, dead with multiple stab wounds inside Sharma’s apartment in the 10100 block of Twin Rivers Road. Police have obtained an arrest warrant against Sharma on charges of first- and second-degree murder.
According to investigators, Sharma himself filed the missing person report on January 2, telling police that he had last seen Godishala at his apartment. However, authorities later discovered that Sharma left the United States for India on the same day after filing the report.
“Detectives executed a search warrant at the apartment on January 3 and located Godishala deceased,” police said.
Investigators believe that Godishala was killed shortly after 7 p.m. on December 31, police added.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no motive has been established so far.
Indian Embassy reacts
The Indian Embassy in the United States said it is in touch with the victim’s family and is extending all possible assistance.
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
“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 local authorities,” it said in a post on X.
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