Investigation Underway for Missing University Student during Spring Break in Dominican Republic
Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student, went missing during a spring break trip in the Dominican Republic. After a night out, she was last seen swimming with a man who later reported her missing. Investigations are ongoing, with no evidence of violence and authorities treating it as an accident, possibly drowning.
Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old student from the University of Pittsburgh, disappeared while on spring break in the Dominican Republic. Her clothes were discovered on a beach near where she was last seen swimming, according to sources from the police. Konanki, a legal permanent U.S. resident and an Indian citizen, went missing around early Thursday after a night out with friends in Punta Cana.
Authorities report that after returning from a nightclub, Konanki and her companions went to the beach at approximately 4 a.m. By 5:55 a.m., her friends had returned to their hotel, captured on security footage. A man remained with Konanki on the beach, who later informed investigators that they attempted to swim but were caught in a wave, leading to confusion about her whereabouts.
After the swimming incident, the man reported feeling ill and took a nap on a beach bed. Upon waking up, he discovered that Konanki was missing. He returned to his hotel at 9:55 a.m., but he is not considered a suspect in her disappearance, as per information from the chief of Civil Defense in the Dominican Republic. The current investigation reflects an accident.
The search for Konanki is expanding to include more beaches and ocean areas, with a belief among officials that she may have drowned. Footage shows the last sighting of Konanki occurred at around 4:15 a.m. on Thursday. The U.S. embassy in the Dominican Republic notified local authorities about her disappearance the following day.
Friends with her during the event have been questioned but face no charges. A collaborative investigation is underway involving the FBI, U.S. embassy, Dominican National Police, and local prosecutors. Investigators will continue to re-interview witnesses, including hotel staff and the individual who was last with Konanki, while analyzing all relevant security footage.
Sudiksha Konanki’s disappearance during her spring break trip continues to be investigated as an accident, with ongoing searches in the waters surrounding Punta Cana. Key details include the timeline of her last known activities, initial investigations pointing toward drowning, and cooperation between various law enforcement agencies. The man last seen with her has not been named a suspect, reflecting a focus on understanding the incident rather than prosecuting her friends.
Original Source: abc7ny.com
