A 27-year-old Indian woman was found dead with multiple stab wounds inside an apartment in Columbia, Maryland, in the United States. Police say her death appears to be a homicide
She has been identified as Nikitha Godishala, a resident of Ellicott City, Howard County
FOn January 2, Howard County police received a missing person report. The report was filed by 26-year-old Arjun Sharma, who told police he last saw Nikitha on December 31 at his apartment
Police executed a search warrant on January 3 at the same apartment and found Nikitha’s body with multiple stab wounds, confirming she had been fatally stabbed
Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Arjun Sharma on first- and second-degree murder charges, saying evidence pointed to his involvement
Investigators learned that Sharma left the United States for India on the same day he filed the missing person report, raising suspicion in the case
The Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. is in contact with Nikitha’s family and providing consular assistance, while U.S. police coordinate the ongoing investigation
vPolice have not publicly confirmed a motive and say the investigation is continuing, with efforts to locate and arrest Sharma ongoing