'In contact with family': Indian embassy on murder of Nikitha Godishala allegedly by ex-boyfriend in Maryland

The Indian embassy Sunday said it was in contact with the family of Nikitha Godishala who was found dead in her ex-boyfriend's apartment in Maryland after remaining missing since December 31. The embassy also said they are following up on the matter with the local authorities, as the Howard County police suspect the ex-boyfriend who immediately flew to India. "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 the matter with the local authorities," the embassy said. Nikitha was reported missing since December 31 and her friends put out messages on social media channels asking for help to find her. There was no update about her whereabouts until the Howard County police issued a statement revealing the details of the investigation so far.Police said they found Nikitha dead inside her ex-boyfriend's apartment in the 10100 block of Twin Rivers Road in Columbia. Investigators believe that Nikitha was killed shortly after 7pm on December 31. But her body was found three days later on Jaury 3, when detectives got a search warrant at Nikitha's ex-boyfriend's apartment. While Nikitha was lying dead inside the apartment, her friends were looking for her. She was stabbed to death, preliminary reports suggested.Nikitha's ex-boyfriend Arjun Sharma, who is the accused in the murder case, filed a missing persons complaint to the police on January 2. He told officers that he saw her last on December 31 at his apartment. On January 2, Sharma left the country on a flight to India. Police have obtained an arrest warrant charging Sharma with first- and second-degree murder. Authorities emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and no motive has been determined.