Dominican Authorities Think Missing College Student May Have Drowned. Her Family Isn't So Sure

Mar. 15, 2025

Sudiksha Konanki.Photo:linkedin

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The family of a 20-year-old college student whowent missing in the Dominican Republicwhile on spring break is urging authorities to investigate if she may have been a victim of kidnapping or human trafficking.

Sudiksha Konanki, a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, was last seen in the early morning hours of March 6, while walking on a beach at Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, according to theDominican Civil Defenseand amissing postershared on social media. The poster states she was on a spring break trip.

The Dominican Republic National Police, which is investigating Konanki’s disappearance along with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, has said Konanki was staying at the resort hotel with five friends who arrived in the country on March 3, according to apress release. She was last seen on video surveillance cameras with a group walking onto the beach around 4:15 a.m. on March 6, police said.

After the walk on the beach, most of the group went back to the hotel, but Konanki stayed on the beach with one other person,ABC Newsreported on March 10, citing a Dominican Republic investigative police report.

Sudiksha Konanki.Facebook

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“We don’t think she would be able to survive for more than three days in the water and I think something else might’ve happened to her,” he said, per the outlet.

Subbarayudu also shared the same sentiments in an interview withWTOP, adding that the family has filed a record of complaint asking authorities to consider foul play.

“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,” the complaint states, per WTOP.

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Police said they are hoping to corroborate the preliminary version of events that the person last seen with Konanki gave to authorities.

Defensa Civil Dominicana/Facebook

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, where Konanki is a resident, has said that, upon being notified of Konanki’s disappearance, 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, noting Konanki is also a citizen of India.

David Chiu

source: people.com