On January 2, 26-year-old Arjun Sharma filed a report with the local police in Maryland City — a suburb in the US state of Maryland near Washington DC — claiming that a woman he had been in a relationship with was missing and that she was last seen on New Year’s Eve at his apartment.
On January 3, officers of the Howard County Police Department found the body of 27-year-old Nikitha Rao Godishala, who was from Secunderabad, inside Sharma’s apartment. By then, Sharma had fled, authorities said. He is believed to have gone to Dulles International Airport, a major international airport serving Washington DC, soon after filing the missing person’s report, and then flown out to India.
US authorities are expected to issue a Red Corner notice to apprehend him.
Godishala lived in Ellicott City, Maryland, where she worked as a data analyst. She had previously completed a pharmacy course from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in Hyderabad before moving to the US for a Master’s in Health Information Technology from the University of Maryland.
The Indian embassy has said that it was in contact with the family of the deceased and is extending all possible consular assistance. The embassy is also following up with the local authorities, it said.
In a press release issued on January 4, Howard County said police located a woman, who was reported missing on January 2, deceased with stab wounds in the apartment of her ex-boyfriend and obtained a warrant for his arrest on first- and second-degree murder charges.
“Arjun Sharma, 26, made the missing person report to police and said he last saw his ex-girlfriend, Nikitha Godishala, 27, of Ellicott City, on December 31 in his apartment in the 10100 block of Twin Rivers Road. Police later learned that on the same day as making the report, January 2, Sharma left the country on a flight to India. Detectives on January 3 executed a search warrant for his apartment and located Godishala deceased. Through investigation, detectives believe Sharma killed Godishala shortly after 7 pm on December 31. The investigation is ongoing, and no motive is known at this time.
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“Howard County police are working with United States federal law enforcement to locate and arrest Sharma,” the county said in a statement.
Friends’ concern
CBS News reported that Godishala’s friends had grown increasingly concerned after not hearing from her since December 31, and that some friends had also filed a report with the police.
Arjun Sharma’s neighbours, quoted by CBS News, expressed shock at the incident and said murders in the area are rare. “The biggest thing you’ll see over here is people fighting over parking spots. I like it like that myself. It’s a very close-knit community. People are very friendly,” said Daniel Wheeler Jr, a neighbour.
Police said that despite their relationship ending earlier, it was not “uncommon” for Godishala and Sharma to meet up. While they said they do not yet know the motive for the murder, they believe there was “obviously some premeditation to be able to do this and then to flee the country” on Sharma’s part.
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In August, Godishala appeared to have posted in a Facebook group looking for someone to take over her room in Sharma’s apartment and described her ex-boyfriend as “respectful” and clean, CBS News reported.
Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance.
Expertise and Experience
Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues:
High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules.
Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes.
Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak.
Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More
