HYDERABAD: A 27-year-old Hyderabad woman, Nikitha Godishala, working in Columbia in the US state of Maryland, was allegedly killed by a former housemate over a money dispute, after she was found murdered inside his apartment, with the suspect having fled to India. Howard County police said the accused, Arjun Sharma (26), is wanted on first- and second-degree murder charges. Nikitha’s body was found on January 3 at an apartment on the 10100 block of Twin Rivers Road in Columbia during a search of Sharma’s residence, a day after he reported her missing. According to her cousin Saraswati, Nikitha, who lived in nearby Ellicott City, had gone to Sharma’s apartment on December 31 to recover money he had borrowed from her. She had earlier transferred $4,500 to him, of which only $3,500 was returned. When Sharma later sought another $1,000, Nikitha refused and demanded the balance from the earlier loan. He allegedly assured her of repayment and asked her to visit him, where she was murdered. Police confirmed on January 4 that Nikitha sustained stab wounds. Speaking to the media in Secunderabad, her father, Anand Godishala, rejected reports describing Sharma as her ex-boyfriend. “He was not her ex. He was one of the four housemates in the flat where she stayed earlier and later moved out. She lent him money, and when she asked for it back, he called her to his apartment and committed the crime,” he said. The Indian Embassy in the US said it is in touch with the family and is providing consular assistance while coordinating with local authorities. Nikitha completed her master’s in health information technology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, in 2022–23 and had been working as a data and strategy analyst with Vheda Health since February 2025. Before moving to the US, she worked as a clinical data analyst at a corporate hospital in Hyderabad. In December 2025, Nikitha shared her professional achievements and future aspirations on LinkedIn, writing about receiving an All-In Award at her workplace and her plans to step into 2026 “with momentum”. After her disappearance, members of the Indian community in the US launched an online search campaign, urging residents in and around Columbia to share any information with the Howard County police. The murder has sent shockwaves through Hyderabad and the Indian community in Maryland, with authorities intensifying efforts to trace the suspect.
