The Embassy of India in Washington DC has confirmed that it is in contact with the family of Nikitha Godishala, a 27-year-old Indian woman whose body was reportedly recovered with stab wounds by the Howard County police on January 3, in Columbia, Maryland.

The Embassy which is extending all possible consular assistance noted it is also following up on the matter with local authorities.

The Howard County Police Department said officers located a woman reported missing on January 2 deceased with stab wounds inside the Columbia apartment of her ex-boyfriend, 26-year-old Arjun Sharma. Police have obtained a warrant for Sharma’s arrest on charges of first- and second-degree murder.

According to a police statement, Sharma filed a missing person report and told officers that he last saw his ex-girlfriend, Godishala of Ellicott City, on December 31 at his apartment in the 10100 block of Twin Rivers Road.

Investigators later determined that on the same day he filed the report, January 2, Sharma left the United States on a flight to India. Detectives executed a search warrant at his apartment on January 3, where they discovered Godishala deceased.

Through the investigation, detectives believe Sharma killed Godishala shortly after 7 p.m. on December 31, the statement added. 

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not identified a motive at this time. Howard County police said they are working with United States federal law enforcement agencies to locate and arrest Sharma.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Godishala served as a “Data and Strategy Analyst at Vheda Health.”

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