COLUMBIA, MD – A 27-year-old woman who was reported missing earlier in January was reportedly found dead inside the apartment of her ex-boyfriend, who police say is the person who initially reported the woman missing. A manhunt is now underway for the woman’s ex-boyfriend, who apparently fled the country shortly after making the missing persons report.
On January 2nd, authorities say 26-year-old Arjun Sharma reported his ex-girlfriend, Nikitha Godishala, missing to the Howard County Police Department, reportedly telling authorities that the last time he’d seen her was on December 31st at his apartment in Columbia. What authorities were oblivious to at the time of the report was that Godishala was already deceased and that Sharma had allegedly already made plans to flee the country.
When police responded to Sharma’s apartment building, they reportedly found Godishala inside his apartment dead, with the victim having suffered multiple stab wounds. Authorities believe she was murdered around 7:00 p.m. on December 31st, days before Sharma reportedly made the missing persons report to police.
After discovering Godishala’s body inside Sharma’s apartment, investigators learned that their prime suspect had already flew out of the country to India. Despite his apparent absence from the United States, authorities say a manhunt is ongoing and Sharma is currently facing charges of first and second-degree murder.
Howard County Police spokesman Seth Hoffman noted that while a motive in the homicide investigation isn’t clear at this time, investigators do believe that Sharma and Godishala had some sort of amicable association following the end of their romantic relationship.
“We do believe it wasn't uncommon that they would still meet each other and have communication after their relationship ended,” Hoffman stated, adding, “but we don't have a motive right now as to why he would kill her.”
Local authorities out of Howard County are reportedly working alongside federal and international agencies in an effort to track down Sharma, who they believe to have flown out of Dulles Airport in Virginia on January 2nd. Sharma and Godishala were both Indian nationals and given the circumstances of Sharma’s exit to India investigators believe “some premeditation” was in play regarding the homicide, according to Hoffman.
On January 2nd, authorities say 26-year-old Arjun Sharma reported his ex-girlfriend, Nikitha Godishala, missing to the Howard County Police Department, reportedly telling authorities that the last time he’d seen her was on December 31st at his apartment in Columbia. What authorities were oblivious to at the time of the report was that Godishala was already deceased and that Sharma had allegedly already made plans to flee the country.
When police responded to Sharma’s apartment building, they reportedly found Godishala inside his apartment dead, with the victim having suffered multiple stab wounds. Authorities believe she was murdered around 7:00 p.m. on December 31st, days before Sharma reportedly made the missing persons report to police.
After discovering Godishala’s body inside Sharma’s apartment, investigators learned that their prime suspect had already flew out of the country to India. Despite his apparent absence from the United States, authorities say a manhunt is ongoing and Sharma is currently facing charges of first and second-degree murder.
Howard County Police spokesman Seth Hoffman noted that while a motive in the homicide investigation isn’t clear at this time, investigators do believe that Sharma and Godishala had some sort of amicable association following the end of their romantic relationship.
“We do believe it wasn't uncommon that they would still meet each other and have communication after their relationship ended,” Hoffman stated, adding, “but we don't have a motive right now as to why he would kill her.”
Local authorities out of Howard County are reportedly working alongside federal and international agencies in an effort to track down Sharma, who they believe to have flown out of Dulles Airport in Virginia on January 2nd. Sharma and Godishala were both Indian nationals and given the circumstances of Sharma’s exit to India investigators believe “some premeditation” was in play regarding the homicide, according to Hoffman.
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