University Student, 20, Disappears During Spring Break in the Dominican Republic – Details

A college student has gone missing following an early morning stroll, prompting authorities to reconstruct her final known moments. The investigation now heavily relies on surveillance footage and eyewitness testimonies.

Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old student from the University of Pittsburgh hailing from Virginia, disappeared during a spring break trip to the Dominican Republic. Officials report that she was last seen early Thursday morning in the vicinity of the Riu República Hotel in Punta Cana.

Konanki was traveling with five other female students from her university and was accommodated at the Riu República Hotel, a favored destination for spring break travelers. According to her father, she informed her friends on March 6 of her intention to attend a party at the resort.

Surveillance footage recorded Konanki along with seven others—five women and two American men—heading towards the beach at 4:15 a.m. Later footage depicted five women and one man departing the beach around 5:55 a.m., while Konanki stayed behind with one of the men.

Another security camera captured the same man leaving the beach alone at 9:55 a.m., four hours later, with no indication of Konanki’s whereabouts. Her friends reported her missing at 4 p.m. on Thursday, approximately 12 hours after she was last seen. Local law enforcement has initiated an active search, scrutinizing surveillance footage and interviewing those who were last in her company.

The Dominican National Police have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, and authorities have questioned the young man last seen with her to ascertain the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. The police have expanded their inquiry to validate his statements and are interrogating others who were present that morning.

The Dominican Navy, Civil Defense, National Emergency System, and Tourism Police are collaborating in the search efforts, utilizing drones, helicopters, and ground teams to explore the coastal area, adjacent bay, and forested regions.
Authorities in the Dominican Republic have conducted extensive searches in the surrounding waters, utilizing helicopters and various equipment. They have also scoured nearby bays, bushes, and trees, revisiting the same locations multiple times, as stated by Subbarayudu Konanki, the father of the missing individual.

In their quest for answers, friends and family have reached out to the media, appealing for any information that could assist in locating her. Subbarayudu Konanki has called on officials to explore all avenues, expressing skepticism that she merely vanished into the water. He has also urged them to consider the potential for kidnapping or human trafficking.

The University of Pittsburgh has voiced its concern regarding Konanki’s disappearance and has maintained communication with her family. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, where her family resides, is collaborating with federal law enforcement, the U.S. State Department, and Dominican authorities.

The Riu hotel chain, where Konanki was a guest, issued a statement affirming its commitment to aiding in the search efforts. They emphasized that the safety and well-being of their guests is their utmost priority and that they are dedicated to providing all possible assistance in this matter.

While the U.S. Embassy has not yet released a formal statement, updates are anticipated as the investigation continues. Officials are encouraging anyone with information regarding Konanki’s whereabouts to come forward. As search teams persist in their efforts, family, friends, and the community remain hopeful for her safe return.