In a shocking turn of events, a 27-year-old Indian woman from Secunderabad was discovered dead in her ex-boyfriend's apartment in the United States, just one day after he reported her missing to the police. The suspect, who allegedly stabbed her to death on New Year's Eve, is believed to have fled to India shortly after filing the report.
Missing Report and Grisly Discovery
The sequence of events began on January 2, 2026, when 26-year-old Arjun Sharma contacted the Howard County Police Department in Maryland City, USA. He reported that his ex-girlfriend, 27-year-old Nikitha Rao Godishala, was missing and had last been seen at his apartment on December 31.
However, the investigation took a dark twist the very next day, January 3. Officers executing a search warrant at Sharma's residence on Twin Rivers Road found Godishala's body inside. She had suffered fatal stab wounds. By the time her body was discovered, Arjun Sharma was already out of the country.
A Calculated Escape to India
Authorities revealed a chilling timeline. They allege that Sharma killed Godishala shortly after 7 pm on December 31. Two days later, on January 2, he went to the police to file the missing person complaint. Soon after filing the report, he travelled to Dulles International Airport near Washington DC and boarded a flight to India.
The Howard County Police have obtained an arrest warrant for Arjun Sharma on charges of first- and second-degree murder. They are now collaborating with US federal law enforcement agencies to locate and apprehend him. A Red Corner Notice through Interpol is expected to be issued to aid in his capture.
Victim's Profile and Official Response
Nikitha Rao Godishala, originally from Secunderabad, Telangana, was a resident of Ellicott City in Maryland. She worked as a data analyst in the US. Her educational background included a pharmacy course from Hyderabad's Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, followed by a Master's degree in Health Information Technology from the University of Maryland.
The Indian Embassy has confirmed it is in touch with Godishala's grieving family and is providing all necessary consular assistance. Embassy officials are also closely following up with the local American authorities regarding the investigation. The motive behind the brutal killing remains unknown, and the probe is ongoing.
