A 27-year-old Maryland woman was found dead with multiple stab wounds, and authorities believe the man responsible fled the country shortly afterward.
On Sunday, Jan. 4, the Howard County Police Department announced that it had issued an arrest warrant for 26-year-old Arjun Sharma, charging him with first- and second-degree murder in connection with the death of Nikitha Godishala.
Godishala’s body was discovered on Jan. 3 inside Sharma’s apartment in Columbia. Investigators say the discovery came one day after Sharma reported her missing and then boarded a flight to India.
According to police, Sharma told investigators that he last saw Godishala on Dec. 31 at his apartment on Twin Rivers Road. Detectives believe the killing occurred around 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, based on evidence gathered during the investigation.
Howard County police said they are coordinating with U.S. federal law enforcement agencies in an effort to locate Sharma and bring him into custody.
Authorities identified Godishala as Sharma’s former girlfriend, based on information collected from multiple sources during the investigation.
Godishala’s father, Anand Godishala, told the Times of India that the two were previously roommates and claimed the killing stemmed from a financial dispute. He alleged that his daughter had lent Sharma money and went to his apartment to recover it.
“He was one of the four housemates in the flat where she stayed and later moved away,” he said. “Nikitha lent him money, and when she asked for it back, he called her to his house and committed the crime,” he alleged.
Godishala’s cousin, Saraswati, also told the Times of India that she went to Sharma’s apartment on Dec. 31 to collect the money he allegedly owed her.
According to the Times of India, Godishala held a master’s degree in health information technology and had been working as a data and strategy analyst at Vheda Health since February 2025.
