A Virginia sheriff is challenging the assumption that a missing University of Pittsburgh student from his county drowned in the Dominican Republic, stating it is “too early to rule anything out.” Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman told Fox News’ Aishah Hasnie on “America Reports” that authorities are “pursuing every angle” in the disappearance of 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki, who was last seen on a beach in Punta Cana.
“As you know, the Dominican authorities are working hard. They’re conducting interviews and looking over phones and trying to get the best information available,” Chapman said. “We’re working with our officers, our State Department, our U.S. Embassy down there, the FBI, and others who have been part of this investigation since it began.”
Konanki, a pre-med student, was on vacation with five other female University of Pittsburgh students before she vanished in the early morning hours of March 6. Three Dominican officials told ABC News she was last seen walking along the beach. According to an investigative police report cited by the outlet, one person allegedly stayed behind with her until the early morning hours. Dominican authorities stated that Konanki and this individual went for a swim and were caught in a large wave.
Investigators later questioned a “young man” who entered the waters around the time Konanki disappeared, according to the Dominican Republic’s Listin Diario. Chapman emphasized that authorities want to “turn over every rock” before concluding what happened to Konanki, declining to comment on who has been questioned. “Before we comment on who exactly they’re talking to or what kind of information they’re getting, it’s too premature,” he said.
On Monday, Dominican authorities deployed drones, helicopters, and dogs to search for Konanki, the Associated Press reported. “The search is underway at sea because it’s presumed she drowned. According to the boy who was with her, the waves swept her away, but that is under police investigation,” Jensen Sánchez, a Civil Defense spokesperson, told the AP.
Konanki’s parents flew to Punta Cana after learning of their daughter’s disappearance, WTOP reported. Her father, Subbarayudu Konanki, and a family friend filed a complaint on Sunday urging local police to expand the investigation. “It’s been four days, and if she was in the water, she would likely have been washed ashore,” her father told WTOP. “She’s not been found, so we’re asking them to investigate multiple options, like kidnapping or abduction.”
In the complaint, her father noted that her personal belongings, including her phone and wallet, were left with her friends, which he found unusual since she always carried her phone. “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,” he wrote.
U.S. Department of State – Travel Advisory
College students are flocking to popular spring break destinations like Cancún, Mexico, and Punta Cana. These locations, while offering vacation options, are under travel advisories from the U.S. Department of State.
The Dominican Republic has a Level 2 travel advisory, urging travelers to exercise increased caution due to “heightened risks to safety and security.” The advisory notes, “The wide availability of weapons, the use and trade of illicit drugs, and a weak criminal justice system contribute to the high level of criminality.”
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman contributed to this report.
Author Bio
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a U.S. Writer at Fox News Digital. She joined FOX in 2021 and has covered breaking and major news events across the U.S. and globally, including the fallout from the “Defund the police” movement, assassination attempts on President Donald Trump, and illegal immigration. She reports on crime, politics, business, lifestyle, and world news. Follow her on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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