A 27-year-old Indian woman reported missing in the United States last week has been found dead with stab wounds, with police naming her former boyfriend as the prime suspect and saying he has fled to India.

Body found in ex-boyfriend’s apartment

Nikitha Godishala, a resident of Ellicott City, was reported missing on January 2. Howard County police said on Sunday that she was found dead in an apartment in Columbia, Maryland, belonging to her ex-boyfriend, Arjun Sharma, 26.

Investigators said Godishala had suffered stab wounds.

Arrest warrant issued for suspect

Police have obtained an arrest warrant for Sharma on charges of first- and second-degree murder.

Authorities said Sharma himself had approached the police to file a missing person report, claiming he last saw Godishala on December 31 at his apartment in the Maryland city.

Suspect left US on day of complaint

Police later established that Sharma left the United States on a flight to India on January 2, the same day he filed the missing person report.

The following day, detectives executed a search warrant at his apartment, where they discovered Godishala’s body.

Killing believed to have occurred on December 31

Based on their investigation, detectives believe Godishala was killed shortly after 7 pm on December 31.

The investigation is continuing, and police said no motive has been established so far.

Indian Embassy offers assistance

The Indian Embassy in Washington DC said in a post on X that it is in contact with Godishala’s family and is providing all possible consular assistance.

“The Embassy is also following up the matter with the local authorities,” it said.

Howard County police said they are working with United States federal law enforcement agencies to locate and arrest Sharma.