Search Continues for University of Pittsburgh Student Missing in…

Sudiksha Konanki, a pre-med student at the University of Pittsburgh, has been missing in the Dominican Republic since March 5. While local authorities suspect drowning, her family disputes this, claiming her body should have emerged if that were true. An extensive search involves multiple agencies, as they investigate potential criminal elements surrounding her disappearance.

The search continues for Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old pre-med student at the University of Pittsburgh, who went missing while on spring break in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Reports state that the Dominican Republic Police Department has declared her presumed deceased due to accidental drowning, a claim her family finds hard to accept, as they believe her body should have surfaced by now.

Surveillance footage shows Konanki with a group of six friends on the night of March 5. She was last seen at approximately 4:15 AM on Friday, when she entered the water with an unidentified individual, while her friends returned to their accommodation at the Riu Republic Resort. The timeline suggests Konanki and her friends visited the beach around 4:00 AM, just before her disappearance.

Following her friends reporting her missing around 4:00 PM on Thursday, an extensive search effort commenced, employing helicopters, boats, and foot searches. Authorities have questioned her friends and the individual remaining with Konanki at the beach. Her clothing was discovered on a portable bed, but there were no indications of foul play.

Despite the DR Public Ministry’s assertion of drowning, Konanki’s parents have filed a complaint, urging for a more thorough investigation due to suspicions regarding the possibility of a crime, including kidnapping. The police in the Dominican Republic have received support in the search from agencies in her hometown in Virginia, alongside the Indian Embassy. Notably, the FBI, DEA, and Homeland Security Investigations are also involved, with multiple local agencies contributing to the search efforts.

In addition to the official search, Konanki’s family and friends are using social media platforms to solicit assistance in locating her. Her family has traveled to Punta Cana, indicating their commitment to searching for their daughter.

The search for Sudiksha Konanki remains ongoing, with her family disputing the official drowning ruling. As authorities investigate the circumstances of her disappearance, they receive aid from various agencies while the community rallies to assist in the search efforts through social media outreach. The situation underscores the need for thorough investigations in mysterious cases.

Original Source: newsindiatimes.com