Investigation Underway for Missing U.S. College Student in Dominican Republic

Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student, went missing on March 6 during a spring break trip in the Dominican Republic. The FBI is now involved in the investigation, which has been ongoing for nearly a week. Her clothing was found on the beach, and the man last seen with her reported she disappeared after a swim. Authorities are expanding search efforts while examining surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses.

On March 6, Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old junior at the University of Pittsburgh, disappeared during her spring break in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. She was last seen around 4:50 a.m. on the beach near her hotel, having spent the previous night at a nightclub with friends. Following her disappearance, the FBI has joined the investigation, dispatching U.S. detectives to assist local authorities, who have been conducting a search for nearly a week.

Sudiksha Konanki is a biology major and an Indian citizen, residing in Chantilly, Virginia. With five friends, she traveled to Punta Cana for spring break on March 3. After attending a nightclub on the evening of March 5, her friends returned to their hotel room while she remained on the beach with a man she had just met. This man reported that they went for a swim and upon returning to the beach discovered she was missing.

Details surrounding her last reported moments indicate that shortly after the friends left the beach, a power outage occurred at the hotel. The man who stayed with Konanki stated that he fell asleep on a beach bed after experiencing illness, and upon awakening, she was no longer present. Police have not identified any signs of violence, as her personal belongings were found near the beach, and video surveillance is under examination to gather more information.

The investigation, initially led by Dominican Republic authorities, has incorporated FBI resources, with detectives from Loudoun County also assisting. The sheriff’s office has requested Interpol to issue a yellow notice, which alerts authorities globally for missing individuals. Investigators are interviewing hotel staff and friends, whilst searching efforts have expanded into broader areas around Punta Cana.

The disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student in the Dominican Republic, has prompted a collaborative investigation involving local authorities and the FBI. As they probe into her last known activities and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, the search remains ongoing, with no signs of foul play detected thus far. The situation highlights the importance of safety measures for travelers.

Original Source: www.deseret.com