The US has issued an arrest warrant for a 26-year-old Indian man, who fled home after murdering his ex-girlfriend on New Year’s Eve at her apartment in Columbia, Howard County. Arjun Sharma is wanted on first and second-degree murder charges in connection with the gruesome murder of his ex-girlfriend, 27-year-old Nikitha Godishala, of Ellicott City.
According to the US police, Sharma contacted law enforcement last Friday to report Godishala missing. He also informed the police that he last saw Godishala on New Year's Eve at his apartment. However, later that day, police found out he had headed to Dulles International Airport and boarded a plane bound for India. Following this, a search warrant was issued and executed at his apartment, where officers found Godishala’s body.
Godishala's body was found with multiple stab wounds and other trauma inside the apartment. Detectives believe Sharma killed Godishala shortly after 7 p.m. on New Year's Eve.
A motive is not currently known, but police believe it was premeditated. "There was obviously some premeditation to be able to do this and then to flee the country, so that's what we have right now as far as charges," Howard County police spokesman Seth Hoffman was quoted by CBS News.
However, Hoffman is unaware of any issues between the former couple. "We are unaware of any previous calls for service or incidents involving the two of them," Hoffman said. "We do believe it wasn't uncommon that they would still meet each other and have communication after their relationship ended, but we don't have a motive right now as to why he would kill her."
No murder weapon has been recovered.
Nikitha Godishala, who completed her Master's in Health Information Technology, is currently working in a private company as a Data and Strategy Analyst. She studied at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. The Indian Embassy in Washington DC said it is in contact with Godishala’s family and is providing consular assistance. "The Embassy is in contact with the family of Ms Nikitha Godishala and is extending all possible consular assistance," officials wrote. "The Embassy is also following up on the matter with the local authorities."
Meanwhile, even before Sharma reported her missing, Godishala’s friends had raised an alarm about her absence on New Year. Some put up posts on social media to ask if anyone knew her whereabouts. The last time her family and friends heard from her was around 7 p.m. on December 31.
Hoffman added that the murder investigation was launched after they received information from friends and family that really raised some red flags.
