Dominican authorities have begun to reconstruct the last moments before the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki, a student at the University of Pittsburgh, who was last seen in the early hours of March 6 on a beach in Punta Cana.
Konanki, 20 years old and resident of Loudoun County, Virginia, was on vacation with a group of friends at the Riu Republica Resort. According to initial reports, the young woman went for a walk on the beach with six other people the night before.
“The best scenario is to find her alive and in good condition,” authorities said
However, while most of the group decided to return to the hotel, she remained on the beach with another person, which has raised questions about what happened next.
Dominican researchers have pointed out the possibility that Konanki may have been swept away by a large wave while swimming, suggesting a possible case of drowning.
However, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office has expressed doubts about this theory, stating that there is currently no conclusive evidence to support this hypothesis. “All possibilities are being evaluated, from an accident to the possibility of a criminal act,” a spokesperson said.
Authorities have reviewed security footage and have questioned those who were with her on the night of her disappearance, but no charges have been filed yet. On the other hand, the Dominican media outlet Listín Diario reported that the last image captured of Konanki on surveillance cameras corresponds to 4:15 a.m. on March 6th.
As the investigation continues, friends and family members hold onto hope of finding answers. “The best-case scenario is finding her alive and well,” a representative from the Sheriff’s Office stated. The uncertainty about what really happened remains, and authorities are working to clarify the case.