Officials are persevering with the seek for a College of Pittsburgh pupil who went lacking final week throughout her spring break journey within the Dominican Republic.
Sudiksha Konanki, 20, was final seen early Thursday, March 6, when video surveillance cameras confirmed her showing to enter the seaside of the Resort Riu in Punta Cana with a buddy, who’s presently below investigation, according to the Dominican Republic National Police.
The police have been first knowledgeable of her disappearance on Friday at 8 a.m. after they acquired a name from the U.S. embassy. Since then, officers have been coordinating with the Dominican Republic Air Power, Navy, Hearth Division, and lodge employees to conduct a search by way of sea, air, and land with the help of canine models. They’ve additionally employed divers, drones, and helicopters.
Additional details about Konanki, a U.S. everlasting resident and Indian citizen, might be revealed because the investigation continues, the Dominican Republic Nationwide Police said in a March 9 assertion.
“We’re conscious of experiences of a College of Pittsburgh pupil lacking within the Dominican Republic. As a consequence of privateness concerns, we’ve got nothing additional to share presently,” the State Division informed TIME in an emailed assertion. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Workplace confirmed in a press release on Sunday they have been working with the Division of State, FBI, DEA, and Homeland Safety Investigations and the College of Pittsburgh police to assist with the investigation.
The Dominican Republic is currently on a degree 2 journey advisory, which inspires guests to train elevated warning as a result of crime.
In a Sunday assertion, the College of Pittsburgh stated they have been involved with Konanki’s household and native authorities, urging anybody with info to achieve out to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Workplace. “We now have provided our full help of their efforts to seek out her and convey her residence safely,” they added.
Right here’s what to know.
What occurred?
Knonanki first arrived to the Dominican Republic on March 3 with a bunch of 5 pals. She disappeared after 4:15 a.m. on March 6, the place she was final captured on video surveillance getting into the seaside space with others, in response to the Dominican Republic Nationwide Police.
In an interview with CNN, Konanki’s father stated that his daughter had gone to the seaside early that morning together with her pals and different males they met on the lodge. “Her pals got here again after a while and my daughter didn’t come again,” Subbarayudu Konanki, the sufferer’s father, stated.
Officers believe a younger man additionally entered the seaside and are working to corroborate his model of occasions.
Whereas some native officers seem to have informed ABC News of a possible drowning, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Workplace informed TIME on Monday in an electronic mail that the experiences have been “speculative” and stated there was “no proof of this presently.”
The prosecutor’s workplace and different investigative officers are interviewing Konanki’s pals with the intention to determine the place precisely she went lacking and search the encircling space. Konanki’s father informed CNN he needed authorities to look into whether or not his daughter might have been kidnapped or human trafficked. “We don’t suppose she would have the ability to survive for greater than three days within the water and I feel one thing else may’ve occurred to her,” he stated.
The Riu lodge chain didn’t instantly reply to TIME’s request for remark.
Konanki’s mother and father are touring to Punta Cana, per NBC News.
In a Fb publish, the Indian Embassy stated they have been in contact with Konanki’s mother and father and have been “extending all help in coordination with authorities authorities of the Dominican Republic.”
