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Nikitha Rao Godishala, a 27-year-old woman from India, was discovered deceased with knife injuries inside her ex-boyfriend's house in Maryland, USA. Her former boyfriend, 26-year-old Arjun Sharma, reported her missing on January 2, claiming he last encountered Godishala on New Year's Eve at his place in Maryland City. Following the missing person's report, Sharma left for India, according to the police. The next day, January 3, investigators located Godishala's body at Sharma's residence. Authorities suspect that Sharma took Godishala's life shortly after 7 pm on December 31. The police have accused the ex-boyfriend of first and second-degree murder and are actively pursuing his arrest. Godishala worked as a Data and Strategy Analyst at Vheda Health in Columbia, Maryland. She became part of the company in February 2025, and within just a few months, she earned the "All-In Award" for her work.
In a LinkedIn post about her achievement, Godishala expressed: "This award serves as a reminder of the purpose and duty I strive to fulfill. I am eager to keep contributing with focus, creativity, and that same 'all-in' spirit that brought me to this point. Here's to advancing, creating, and stepping into 2026 with energy. " Before her time at Vheda Health, Godishala worked at Management Sciences for Health for over a year, holding the position of Data Analysis and Visualization Specialist (Technical Advisor). Prior to that role, from June 2022 to May 2023, she was affiliated with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
In India, Godishala served as a Clinical Pharmacist intern at Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Hospitals for a year and a half, before becoming a Clinical Data Specialist for two years. She studied pharmacy at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University from June 2015 to September 2021, then relocated to the United States for a master's degree in health information technology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. As per her LinkedIn profile, Godishala was proficient in three languages: English, Hindi, and Telugu. She was passionate about using data insights to enhance healthcare systems and improve patient results.
