New Delhi, Jan 5: A 27-year-old Indian woman was found fatally stabbed in an apartment in Maryland, with police identifying her ex-boyfriend as a suspect while noting that the motive behind the killing remains unclear.

“Please help us find Nikitha” — a post surfaced on Facebook last week, calling for help to find a woman who went missing on New Year's Eve in the United States. “Her friends have already filed a police report, but we need more eyes on the ground. If you live in or around the Columbia area, please keep a lookout,” the social media post read.

Howard County authorities said that Nikita Godishala, a resident of Ellicott City, had been reported missing on January 2, just days after New Year's Eve. On January 2, Arjun Sharma, Nikitha Godishala's ex-boyfriend, also filed a missing person's complaint, stating he last saw her on December 31 in his apartment in the 10100 block of Twin Rivers Road, but he fled to India the same day, according to the official statement.

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Police executed a search warrant on January 3 at an apartment in Columbia that belonged to Sharma and discovered her body with multiple stab wounds inside.

Detectives believe 26-year-old Sharma killed Godishala shortly after 7 pm on December 31.

US law enforcement agencies have issued a warrant charging him with both first-degree and second-degree murder. Efforts are underway with federal and international agencies to locate him, and authorities may seek a Red Notice through Interpol to aid his arrest and extradition.

Howard County Police said that no clear motive has yet been established, and detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Godishala’s death. They noted that while the two continued to communicate even after the relationship ended, “We don’t have a motive right now as to why he would kill her,” said police.

After the incident was reported on Sunday, the Indian Embassy in the US took to social media and assured support to Godishala’s family.

“The Embassy is in contact with the family of Ms. Nikitha Godishala and is extending all possible consular assistance. The Embassy is also following up on the matter with the local authorities,” the Indian Embassy wrote on X.

Compiled by: Aditi Majhi