Search intensifies for missing college student Sudiksha Konanki in Dominican Republic. Here’s what we know.
Investigators are asking for a worldwide police alert to be issued in the ongoing search for a University of Pittsburgh student who went missing while on a spring break trip to the Dominican Republic with her friends.
The worldwide alert, known as a Yellow Notice for missing persons, is issued by INTERPOL. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in the Virginia hometown of 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki has filed for the notification.
Search intensifies for missing college student
Authorities are searching on land and water in the tourist town of Punta Cana for any signs of Konanki, who was last seen at the Riu Republica hotel around 4 a.m. Thursday, March 6.
Konanki, a student at the University of Pittsburgh, is a permanent resident of the United States but a citizen of India.
A Dominican police source tells CBS News that Konanki walked to the beach with the five friends she was traveling with, and the group was accompanied by two American men. Konanki reportedly stayed behind on the beach with one of the men while the rest of the group went back to the hotel.
(Photo: Defensa Civil Dominicana)
Police are conducting interviews in the investigation, but no one has been detained and the investigation is ongoing. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said Konanki’s friends are still in the Carribean nation.
“It’s my understanding they were supposed to return today, but I think they’re being held longer there for additional questioning,” said Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman.
The sheriff’s office acknowledged there’s been “considerable public speculation” about what happened to Konanki but cautioned against drawing any conclusions.
“Everybody’s kind of working through this right now. There’s a lot of folks that are involved, so we want to make sure that before we put any information out, that we get it absolutely right,” Chapman said.
Investigators are reviewing surveillance video and telephone records.
The Civil Defense also brought in a specialized search and rescue K-9 team to assist in the efforts, their Facebook page said. The handler and his dog, Max, are described as “an exemplary rescue institution,” specializing in locating people living in open spaces.
Authorities said they have also used drones to get a better view of the beach and surrounding places.
Officials involved in the search efforts include Dominican Civil Defense, the Dominican Navy, police and firefighters, authorities said. Law enforcement in Virginia and Pitt police are also part of the investigation.
Reaction from the University of Pittsburgh
A Pitt spokesperson told KDKA-TV that the university is in contact with Konanki’s family and authorities in her family home of northern Virginia.
“University officials are in contact with Sudiksha Konanki’s family as well as authorities in Loudoun County, Virginia, and we have offered our full support in their efforts to find her and bring her home safely,” a university spokesperson said over the weekend. “Anyone with information is urged to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office at 703-777-1021.”
Fellow students expressed concern Konanki as they returned to class Monday after spring break.
“No one sends their kid to college let alone on spring break for a fun time and expects them to go missing,” said junior Halley Katz.
“Everyone takes that trip expecting to come home and see their family and I’m really praying for her family and hopeful that she gets home,” Katz added.
Sudiksha Konanki’s family speaks out
Konanki’s father, Subbarayudu Konanki, has told media outlets that he and his wife have traveled to Punta Cana with two family friends.
“For spring break she wanted to have a nice break with her friends in Punta Cana. She came with her friends on March 3,” he told reporters.
The investigation focused in and around the water. Over the weekend, Konanki and a family friend filed a record of complaint, asking authorities to widen the investigation.
“It’s four days, and if she was in water, she would likely have been strewn to shore,” Subbarayudu Konanki told WTOP-FM. “She’s not found, so we’re asking them to investigate multiple options, like kidnapping or abduction.”
The complaint notes that the student’s belongings, including her phone and wallet, were left with her friends, “which is unusual because she always carried her phone with her.”
“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,” Konanki wrote.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, from Konanki’s hometown in Virginia, is taking part in the investigation. They released a statement over the weekend.
“We have confirmed that there were six female students of the University of Pittsburgh traveling in Punta Cana, at least two of whom are residents of Loudoun County, Virginia, one of whom is the missing person who is also a citizen of India,” said a Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.
In addition to the University of Pittsburgh police, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said they are working with the U.S. Department of State, FBI, DEA, and Homeland Security Investigations.
contributed to this report.