A young Indian woman was found stabbed to death inside an apartment in Maryland, and her ex-boyfriend, Arjun Sharma, is now on the run in India, PTI reported. Authorities have launched an international search to find him.
Sharma, like Godishala, is originally from India. Police say he left the United States for India on the same day he reported Nikitha missing. US federal authorities are now working with international agencies to track him down.
Who is Arjun Sharma?
Arjun Sharma, 26, is now facing both first-degree and second-degree murder charges in the United States. Howard County police say Sharma is wanted for allegedly killing his former girlfriend, 27-year-old Nikitha Godishala, before fleeing the country. Sharma lived in Columbia, Maryland. According to Howard County Police, he and Godishala were no longer together, but they still met and stayed in touch after their relationship ended.
According to Howard County investigators, on New Year’s Eve, Sharma contacted police and said the last time he saw Godishala was at his apartment. Then, on January 2, he filed a missing persons report for her. However, authorities later discovered that Sharma had already boarded a flight and left the United States for India. After learning this, the police searched his apartment. That is where they found Godishala’s body.
Howard County Police are now working alongside federal agencies and international authorities to locate Sharma. “There was obviously some premeditation to be able to do this and then to flee the country, so that’s what we have right now as far as charges,” Howard County police spokesman Seth Hoffman told WJZ.
The US Attorney’s Office is coordinating with Interpol to issue a “red notice.” “The US Attorney’s office works with Interpol, which is an international organization, and they will eventually issue what is known as a ‘red notice’, basically an international arrest warrant,” Hoffman added. A red notice works like an international alert. Once issued, it is shared with nearly 200 countries, including India. This allows local authorities to track and arrest a suspect if they are located.
The US and India have an extradition treaty that allows authorities to cooperate in serious criminal cases. However, bringing someone back from India usually involves court proceedings and can take months.
India’s embassy responds to the case
In a statement posted on X, the embassy said it is in touch with Nikitha Godishala’s family and is offering all possible consular 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
Police believe Nikitha Godishala was killed shortly after 7 pm on December 31. Detectives say the attack happened inside Sharma’s apartment in Columbia. Concern grew when Godishala suddenly stopped responding to her friends on New Year’s Eve. Those close to her say this was unusual. As hours passed without any contact, some of her friends took to social media, posting messages and asking if anyone had seen or heard from her.
Her body was later found with multiple stab wounds and other signs of physical assault. Investigators have not confirmed whether the weapon used in the killing has been recovered. “We are unaware of any previous calls for service or incidents involving the two of them. We do believe it wasn’t uncommon that they would still meet each other and have communication after their relationship ended, but we don’t have a motive right now as to why he would kill her,” Hoffman told WJZ.
Nikitha Godishala was a healthcare professional and data analytics expert. According to her LinkedIn profile, she worked across pharmacy, clinical research, health information technology, and data management according to her LinkedIn.
Nikitha 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.
