College Student, 20, Missing in Dominican Republic Thought to Have Drowned on Early Morning Beach Walk: Report

Mar. 15, 2025

A 20-year-old college student whowent missing last week after going for an early morning beach walkin the Dominican Republic is thought have drowned, local officials said, according to a new report.

University of Pittsburgh junior Sudiksha Konanki — a resident of Virginia’s Loudoun County — was last seen on Thursday, March 6, while walking on a beach at Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, according to theDominican Civil Defenseand amissing postershared on social media.

She was on a spring break trip, the poster stated.

On Monday, March 10,ABC Newsreported that Konanki had been walking on the beach with six people on Wednesday, March 5, citing three Dominican officials involved in the investigation.

Most of the group then went back to the hotel but Konanki had stayed on the beach with one other person, ABC News added, according to a Dominican Republic investigative police report.

However, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is pushing back on that determination, indicating it may be premature and that “[there’s] no evidence to support that … at this time,” a spokesperson toldThe Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“The investigation is looking at everything from an accident to foul play, and interviews are ongoing, along with review of video and phone records,” the spokesperson said. “The best outcome is that she is found alive and well."

Sudiksha Konanki.Handout

Handout

Local outletListin Diariopreviously reported that she was last seen on video surveillance cameras around 4:15 a.m. local time on Thursday, March 6.

Konanki — an Indian citizen — was traveling with a group of six other female Pittsburgh students, including one other Loudoun County resident, a spokesperson for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office previously told PEOPLE in a statement.

Sudiksha Konanki.linkedin

linkedin

The search for Konanki began in the early hours of Saturday, March 8, according to the Dominican Civil Defense.

Defensa Civil Dominicana/Facebook

The LCSO has said that, upon being notified of Konanki’s disappearance on Thursday evening, the agency immediately followed up with federal and state law enforcement officials as well as contacts in the Dominican Republic.

The Embassy of India in the country has “taken the lead” on the ground, the agency said.

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“The more people who know, the better the chances we can bring her home safely,” the caption concluded.

source: people.com