Ongoing Search for University Student Missing in Dominican Republic

Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old student, has been missing in the Dominican Republic for over a week. Authorities are exploring both drowning and foul play in their ongoing investigation, as they intensify search efforts both on land and in water.

The search for Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student, has now surpassed the one-week mark since she went missing in the Dominican Republic. Konanki was last seen at a hotel at approximately 4 a.m. on March 6, having traveled to Punta Cana with five female friends for the spring break holiday. Officials are considering various theories surrounding her disappearance, including the possibility of drowning, and they are also investigating potential foul play.

Konanki, a permanent U.S. resident originally from India, was captured on surveillance footage walking with her friends towards the beach, where she reportedly remained with another individual, Joshua Riibe, after the group returned to the hotel. The last moment of contact with her occurred when a wave hit them while they were on the beach, as informed by Dominican President Luis Abinader. Riibe, a senior from St Cloud State University in Minnesota, expressed hope for Konanki’s swift return and emphasized the need for a fair investigation.

Authorities have committed extensive resources to locate the missing student, deploying drones and monitoring footage from the sea with the help of artificial intelligence to identify potential objects in the water. Despite thorough searches, Dominican police have found no signs of violence or blood at the beach, making it unclear if foul play was involved in the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

The University of Pittsburgh has engaged with federal agencies such as the FBI and DHS to assist in the case. Additionally, Interpol has issued a yellow notice to heighten awareness and search efforts globally, focusing on missing individuals in critical situations. The community continues to eagerly await updates as search efforts intensify.