Howard County police are coordinating with federal partners after the suspect left the U.S. on Jan. 2.
COLUMBIA, Md. — Howard County police said they found 27-year-old Nikitha Godishala dead with stab wounds inside her ex-boyfriend’s apartment and obtained a warrant charging him with murder as investigators learned he boarded a flight to India on Jan. 2.
Detectives identified the suspect as 26-year-old Arjun Sharma of Columbia. Investigators said Sharma told police on Jan. 2 that he last saw Godishala on New Year’s Eve at his apartment. The next day, detectives executed a search warrant at the unit in the 10100 block of Twin Rivers Road and located her body. Authorities believe the killing occurred around 7 p.m. Dec. 31. The case now involves federal assistance to track Sharma abroad while local officials work through autopsy findings, evidence analysis and next steps with prosecutors.
Police said the arrest warrant includes counts of first- and second-degree murder. Investigators did not release a motive and said key questions remain about the hours before the attack and the route Sharma took after leaving the country. Detectives are reviewing security video, airline and travel records, electronic communications and digital location data connected to both people. The department said there is no indication of a broader threat to the public. The building where the body was found sits near downtown Columbia, with multiple entrances and shared stairwells typical of large apartment communities.
The discovery capped a fast-moving missing-person case that began during the New Year’s holiday. Word of the death spread quickly through Howard County, which generally records fewer homicides than neighboring jurisdictions. Regional data show the Washington area ended 2025 with scattered year-end killings; the Howard County case closed out the year and immediately drew attention from local and Indian communities after police disclosed that the suspect had already flown overseas. Community groups have shared condolences and updates while friends awaited official arrangements.
Officials said they completed notifications to Godishala’s family and are coordinating with consular representatives on returning her remains. Prosecutors are working with detectives on extradition-related procedures in case the suspect is detained abroad. Police said additional public information will depend on the progress of the international search and the timeline for forensic testing. The State’s Attorney’s Office is expected to review final autopsy results and investigative reports ahead of any court filing beyond the existing warrant.
Residents at the complex described officers canvassing hallways and knocking on doors as crime-scene tape cordoned off a stairwell. One neighbor said she saw police carrying evidence bags after dark. Another resident who returned Sunday from a holiday trip said the scene felt “unreal” for a property that is usually quiet. A local advocate who has spoken with friends of the victim called the loss heartbreaking and said the community wants clear answers about what happened on Dec. 31 and what led up to the violence.
As of Monday, the warrant remained active and the search continued with help from federal and international partners. Authorities said they will release further updates when they confirm the suspect’s location or schedule a briefing with prosecutors.
Author note: Last updated January 5, 2026.