Ex-Girlfriend Murdered in the U.S.; Accused Flees to India, Arrested in Tamil Nadu

Hyderabad/Chennai: In a shocking crime, 27-year-old Nikita Godishala, an Indian-origin woman residing in Ellicott City, Maryland, USA, was murdered by her former boyfriend Arjun Sharma (26). Her body, bearing multiple stab wounds, was discovered in Sharma’s Columbia apartment by Howard County Police on 3 January 2026.

According to police reports, Arjun Sharma filed a missing person report on 2 January, claiming that Nikita had gone missing after he last saw her at his apartment on 31 December 2025. However, authorities later confirmed that Sharma allegedly killed Nikita on 31 December and immediately fled to India via Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. He was subsequently arrested in Tamil Nadu.

Victim’s Background

Nikita Godishala, originally from Secunderabad, Hyderabad, was a data analyst at Veda Health in Maryland. She had completed a pharmacy course at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, before moving to the U.S. for a master’s degree in health information technology from the University of Maryland. Friends and colleagues reported her missing when she failed to make contact from 31 December, raising alarms that led to police involvement.

Alleged Motive and Arrest

Police sources indicate that Nikita and Arjun had broken up but continued to meet occasionally. After filing the missing person report, Sharma flew back to India on 2 January. He was arrested by authorities in Tamil Nadu and is now in custody, facing murder charges. Investigators are continuing their inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the tragic killing.

This incident has sent shockwaves through both the Indian diaspora in the U.S. and local communities in India, highlighting the cross-border challenges in pursuing fugitives in violent crimes.