A college student vanished after an early morning walk, leaving authorities to piece together her last known moments. Surveillance footage and witness accounts are now central to the investigation.
Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student from Virginia, disappeared during a spring break trip to the Dominican Republic. Authorities say she was last seen early Thursday morning near the Riu República Hotel in Punta Cana.
Konanki had been traveling with five other female students from her university and was staying at the Riu República Hotel, a popular resort among spring breakers. According to her father, she told friends on March 6 that she planned to attend a party at the resort.
Surveillance footage captured Konanki and seven others — five women and two American men — heading to the beach at 4:15 a.m. The footage later showed five women and one man leaving the beach around 5:55 a.m., while Konanki remained behind with one of the men.
Another security camera recorded the same man leaving the beach alone at 9:55 a.m. — four hours later — with no sign of Konanki. Her friends reported her missing at 4 p.m. Thursday, about 12 hours after she was last seen. Local police have launched an active search, reviewing surveillance footage and questioning those who were last with Konanki.
The Dominican National Police have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, and authorities have interviewed the young man last seen with her to determine what happened. Police have broadened their investigation to verify his statements and are questioning others present that morning.
The Dominican Navy, Civil Defense, National Emergency System, and Tourism Police are assisting in search efforts, deploying drones, helicopters, and ground teams to comb the coastal area, nearby bay, and wooded regions.
“So far, the authorities, multiple authorities here in the Dominican Republic, have searched in the waters. They searched using helicopters and other tools. They also searched in the near bay, bushes, trees. They went multiple times around the same areas,” said Konanki’s father, Subbarayudu Konanki.
Friends and family have turned to the media, pleading for information that could help locate her. Konanki’s father has urged authorities to investigate all possibilities, saying he does not believe she simply disappeared into the water. He has also asked officials to consider the possibility of kidnapping or human trafficking.
The University of Pittsburgh has expressed concern over Konanki’s disappearance and has been in contact with her family. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, where her family lives, has been working with federal law enforcement, the U.S. State Department, and Dominican authorities.
The Riu hotel chain, where Konanki was staying, released a statement saying it was assisting in the search. “The safety and well-being of our guests are our highest priority, and we are committed to doing everything possible to assist in this situation,” they said.
Tourists enjoy a beach in the Dominican Republic, on January 7, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
The U.S. Embassy has yet to issue a formal statement, but updates are expected as the investigation progresses. Officials urge anyone with information on Konanki’s whereabouts to come forward. As search teams work tirelessly, family, friends, and the public remain hopeful for her safe return./By
