An Indian student Sudiksha Konanki, who went missing during her holiday in the Dominican Republic last week is believed to have died by drowning.
The 20-year-old Indian student is a student at the University of Pittsburgh and was holidaying with five university friends at a Punta Cana resort, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office statement on Monday.
The disappearance was reported on March 6. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) continues supporting US federal agencies working alongside Dominican National Police to locate Konanki and understand the circumstances of her disappearance.
Konanki, who resides in Loudoun County, Virginia, disappeared during her spring break holiday in Punta Cana, last seen in the early hours of March 6.
“The ongoing investigation includes wide-ranging search efforts, along with a review of surveillance video and telephone records. Interviews are also continuing with anyone who may have seen or been with Konanki before she went missing,” the LCSO statement said. The office has requested INTERPOL to issue a Yellow Notice for worldwide police alert.
ABC News reported that three Dominican officials involved stated “over the weekend that Konanki is believed to have drowned in the ocean.”
“We caution anyone from drawing any unsubstantiated conclusions and are committed to ensuring that a thorough investigation is conducted before any conclusions are reached,” it stated.
The LCSO advises against unfounded speculation about Konanki’s fate or potential involvement of others.
The LCSO remains hopeful for Konanki’s safe return and pledges continued support to the investigation and her family.
The office is coordinating with the US Department of State, FBI, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations and University of Pittsburgh Police to support the Dominican National Police investigation.
Police finds portable beach bed close to beach
ABC News cited police sources revealing that Konanki’s clothing was found on a “portable beach bed close to the beach where she went missing.”
According to ABC News, after visiting a nightclub on March 5, Konanki and others went to the beach around 4 am on March 6. Sources indicate her travelling companions returned to their hotel at approximately 5:55 am, confirmed by security footage.
“A man stayed behind with Konanki on the beach,” states a Dominican Republic police report.
“The man, whose name was not released, told police that he and Konanki went for a swim and got caught by a big wave, the police report said,” according to ABC News.
The man reportedly informed police that upon returning to shore, he became ill, slept on a beach bed, and awoke to find Konanki missing.
Sources indicate the man, seen returning to his room at 9:55 am via security footage, is “not considered a suspect in Konanki’s death.”
Officials confirmed that Konanki’s friends present during her disappearance were questioned but not charged, as reported by ABC News.
Konanki’s father asks authorities to widen options
The father of a Konanki said he has asked authorities to widen their investigation.
“It’s four days, and if she was in water, she would likely have been strewn to shore,” her father Subbarayudu Konanki told WTOP-FM. “She’s not found, so we’re asking them to investigate multiple options, like kidnapping or abduction.”
When her family learned of her disappearance, Subbarayudu Konanki and his wife Sreedevi flew to Punta Cana with two family friends. He and a family friend filed a record of complaint Sunday, asking authorities to widen the investigation.