Investigation Ongoing in Sudiksha Konanki’s Disappearance in the Dominican Republic

Sudiksha Konanki, a missing University of Pittsburgh student, last seen in the Dominican Republic, is the focus of an ongoing investigation. A man identified as a person of interest was with her before her presumed drowning. The FBI is now involved, while officials stress the safety of tourists in the country.

The search continues for Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student who has been missing in the Dominican Republic since March 6. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia has identified a man, who was reportedly last seen with her, as a person of interest in the case. At this moment, he has not been charged, and officials clarify that this is not considered a criminal investigation.

The man is noted to be a U.S. citizen vacationing in Punta Cana, separate from the group travelling with Konanki. The investigation, now aided by the FBI, has revealed that Konanki is presumed to have drowned, as stated by officials. She was part of a group of six students who were on vacation together in the area.

According to Dominican police, witnesses are being re-interviewed to gather more information surrounding Konanki’s disappearance, notably at the Riu República Hotel beach where she was last seen. The beach visit coincided with a power outage that prompted multiple guests to go outside. Dominican President Luis Abinader expressed concern over the situation, commenting on the efforts being made to locate the missing student.

Reports indicate that Konanki was swimming with the aforementioned individual when a large wave swept them away. The last known footage of her was captured around 4:15 a.m. on March 6. Her friends did not realize she was missing until the afternoon of the same day.

A discrepancy in timestamps from the security camera footage was later noticed, indicating the man headed back to his room at approximately 8:55 a.m. Investigative authorities have stated he is cooperating, but his status remains uncertain regarding whether he may leave the country. Others in Konanki’s group have also been interviewed and faced no charges. Overall, officials believe no other individuals were involved in the incident.

The ongoing investigation into Sudiksha Konanki’s disappearance highlights significant concerns regarding safety for young travelers. The identification of a person of interest who was last seen with her has led to deeper inquiries, supported by the FBI. Despite the situation’s tragic nature, authorities emphasize the general safety enjoyed by tourists in the Dominican Republic, where the incident occurred. The search continues, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

Original Source: 6abc.com