HYDERABAD: A 27-year-old woman from Hyderabad, Nikitha Godishala, employed in Columbia, in the US state of Maryland, was found murdered in the apartment of an Indian man who is believed to have fled to India. Howard County police confirmed that the man, Arjun Sharma (26), is wanted on first- and second-degree murder charges.Howard County police discovered Nikitha’s body on Jan 3 at the 10100 block of Twin Rivers Road, Columbia, following a search of Sharma’s apartment. Sharma had reported Nikitha missing on Jan 2. Nikitha, who lived in nearby Ellicott City, had gone to Sharma’s residence on Dec 31 to collect money he had borrowed from her, according to her cousin, Saraswati.Saraswati claimed Nikitha had initially sent Sharma $4,500, of which he had returned $3,500. When he requested an additional $1,000, she refused and asked him to return the outstanding amount from the earlier loan, she said. Sharma assured her he would pay, prompting Nikitha to visit him at his apartment where she was murdered.Howard County police confirmed on Jan 4 that Nikitha’s body bore stab wounds.Not ex-boyfriend: FatherSpeaking to the media in Secunderabad, Nikitha’s father, Anand Godishala, clarified reports labeling Sharma as her ex-boyfriend. “The alleged culprit is not her ex-boyfriend. Please do not report it like that. He was one of the four housemates in the flat where she stayed and moved away. Nikitha lent him money and when she asked for the money back, he called her to his house and committed the crime,” he alleged.The Indian embassy in the US confirmed that it was in touch with Nikitha’s family and was providing all possible consular assistance, while also following up with local authorities.Nikitha had completed her master’s in health information technology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, in 2022-23, and had been working with Vheda Health as a data and strategy analyst since Feb 2025. Prior to moving to the US, she worked as a clinical data analyst at a corporate hospital in Hyderabad.Future aspirationsIn Dec 2025, Nikitha shared her professional achievements and future aspirations on LinkedIn. “9 Months. 1 Award. A Completely Transformed Year. I’m closing out 2025 with a milestone I didn’t expect so soon, receiving the All-In Award at Vheda Health. This recognition means more than the award itself. It reflects how deeply the right environment, people, and culture can shape someone’s growth,” she wrote.“This award is a reminder of the purpose and responsibility I carry forward. I’m excited to continue contributing with intention, creativity, and that same ‘all-in’ energy that brought me here. Here’s to growing, building, and stepping into 2026 with momentum,” she added.Following her disappearance, the Indian community in the US launched an online search campaign. A Facebook post by Shekhar Goswami urged residents of Columbia to be on the lookout. “Her friends already filed a police report, but we need more eyes on the ground. If you live in or around the Columbia area, please keep a lookout. If you have any information, no matter how small, please contact the Howard County police department,” the post said.The crime has sent shockwaves through both Hyderabad and the Indian community in Maryland, prompting authorities to intensify their efforts to locate the suspect.
