Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old premed student at the University of Pittsburgh, has been reported as missing. The Loudoun County resident was vacationing with friends in the Dominican Republic.
“We now believe there were six female students of the University of Pittsburgh traveling in Punta Cana,” Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Thomas Julia told WTOP. “At least two of whom, including the missing person, are residents of Loudoun County.”
Julia said that Konanki, a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County, is also a citizen of India, “so, the embassy of India in the Dominican Republic has taken the lead on the ground, working with our State Department and local law enforcement there.” Julia also said the FBI has been briefed on the case.
According to Dominican Republic National Police, Konanki was last seen at 4:15 a.m. on Thursday, March 6, on the beach of the RIU hotel. She and her friends checked into the Punta Cana hotel on March 3.
ABC News reported that Konanki had been walking on the beach with six people, citing three Dominican officials involved in the investigation. Most of the group returned the hotel, but Konanki had stayed on the beach with one other person. According to a Dominican Republic investigative police report obtained by ABC News, Konanki is believed to have subsequently drowned in the ocean after being caught by a big wave when she and the other person went for a swim.
Dominican Republic search and rescue groups worked over the weekend to locate Konanki in and around the water, “Using helicopters, drones, scuba diving, (surf)boards — and they used sniffer dogs,” Subbarayudu Konanki, Sudiksha’ father, told WTOP.
Yesterday, Subbarayudu Konanki and family friend Ramprakash Krishnamanaidu filed a record of complaint, seeking to widen the investigation, WTOP reported. According to the record of complaint, “While it is possible that Sudiksha drowned, there is a growing suspicion that there may be a crime, specifically the possibility of kidnapping.” The complaint provided the name of a person the family described as “a stranger” who was seen with Sudiksha on the beach.
“Her belongings, including personal items like her phone and wallet, were left with her friends, which is unusual because she always carried her phone with her,” according to the report.
“In light of these circumstances, I respectfully request that the authorities take immediate steps to investigate not only the possibility of an accidental drowning, but also the possibility of a kidnapping or foul play,” wrote Subbarayudu Konanki.
Feature image via Listin Diario
