FBI Joins Search for Missing U.S. College Student in Dominican Republic
The FBI has joined Dominican authorities in the search for Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student who vanished during a spring break trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on March 6, 2025. Konanki was last seen around 4:50 a.m. walking alone on the beach outside the Riu República Hotel. Her disappearance coincided with a power outage at the resort, which prompted several guests to head to the beach .
Dominican President Luis Abinader expressed concern over the situation, stating that all government agencies were involved in the search efforts. He mentioned that the last person to be with Konanki reported that a wave had crashed into them while they were on the beach .
Konanki’s parents, Subbarayudu and Sreedevi, traveled to the Dominican Republic after their daughter’s disappearance. They have requested that she be declared legally dead, as authorities believe she drowned, and they hope this will help them begin the grieving process .
The FBI’s involvement includes providing forensic assistance, coordinating intelligence-sharing, and assisting with investigative steps such as cross-referencing surveillance footage and phone data .
Authorities have stated that there is no evidence of foul play, and the investigation remains ongoing. The FBI continues to work closely with Dominican officials, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Indian embassy to locate Konanki and determine the circumstances of her disappearance.
Leave a Reply