A young woman from Hyderabad, working in the United States, was brutally murdered allegedly by a former housemate over a financial dispute, sending shockwaves through her family and the Indian community on both continents. The suspect is now believed to have fled to India, prompting an international manhunt.
The Tragic Discovery and a Missing Person Report
The body of 27-year-old Nikitha Godishala was discovered on January 3 inside an apartment on Twin Rivers Road in Columbia, Maryland. This grim find came a day after the prime suspect, 26-year-old Arjun Sharma, had himself reported her missing to the Howard County police. Authorities confirmed that Nikitha had sustained fatal stab wounds.
The investigation reveals a chilling sequence of events rooted in a monetary argument. According to her cousin Saraswati, Nikitha, who lived in nearby Ellicott City, had gone to Sharma's apartment on December 31. Her purpose was to recover money he owed her. She had previously transferred $4,500 to him, of which he had returned only $3,500.
A Dispute Over $1,000 Turns Deadly
The situation escalated when Arjun Sharma later asked to borrow another $1,000. Nikitha refused this new request and instead demanded the remaining $1,000 balance from the initial loan. Sharma allegedly lured her to his apartment with assurances of repayment, where he then murdered her.
Speaking to the media in Secunderabad, Nikitha's father, Anand Godishala, clarified the nature of their relationship, strongly refuting claims that Sharma was her ex-boyfriend. "He was not her ex. He was one of the four housemates in the flat where she stayed earlier and later moved out," he stated. "She lent him money, and when she asked for it back, he called her to his apartment and committed the crime."
The Howard County police have issued warrants for Arjun Sharma, charging him with first- and second-degree murder. He is currently at large and is believed to have fled to India.
A Promising Life Cut Short and Community Outrage
Nikitha Godishala was a promising professional with a bright future. She completed her master's in health information technology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, in 2022–23. Since February 2025, she had been working as a data and strategy analyst with Vheda Health. Prior to her move to the US, she was a clinical data analyst at a corporate hospital in Hyderabad.
In a poignant LinkedIn post in December 2025, she shared her professional achievements, including receiving an All-In Award at work, and expressed her plans to step into 2026 "with momentum."
The murder has profoundly impacted the Indian communities in Hyderabad and Maryland. Following her disappearance, members of the diaspora launched an online campaign to help find her, urging residents in Columbia to share information with the police. The Indian Embassy in the US has confirmed it is in touch with Nikitha's family, providing consular assistance and coordinating with American authorities.
The case highlights the vulnerabilities faced by individuals abroad and has intensified efforts to trace the suspect across international borders, as a family mourns the loss of a beloved daughter and a career full of promise.
