The father of a missing 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student is calling on authorities in the Dominican Republic to expand their investigation after his daughter disappeared in Punta Cana while on spring break.
Sudiksha Konanki was last seen before dawn on March 6 at a beach near the resort where she was staying with friends. Civil Defense officials have been searching for her, but as of Sunday, there was no sign of her.
Her father, Subbarayudu Konanki, told WTOP-FM, “It’s been four days, and if she was in the water, she would likely have washed ashore. She’s not been found, so we’re asking them to investigate multiple options, like kidnapping or abduction.”
University of Pittsburgh officials have stated they are in contact with the family and authorities in Virginia, offering support in efforts to locate Sudiksha.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia confirmed they are coordinating with federal agencies and University of Pittsburgh police to assist the Dominican National Police in their investigation. Konanki, an Indian citizen and U.S. permanent resident, lived in Chantilly, Virginia.
Sudiksha traveled to Punta Cana with five female friends from the university for spring break on March 3. After learning of her disappearance, her parents flew to the Dominican Republic with family friends to assist in the search.
On Sunday, Konanki and a family friend filed an official complaint requesting that authorities consider other possibilities beyond accidental drowning. The complaint highlights that Sudiksha’s phone and wallet were left with her friends, which her father said was “unusual because 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,” Konanki wrote.
Authorities in the Dominican Republic continue their search while the family awaits further developments.
The U.S. State Department advises travelers to exercise increased caution in the Dominican Republic due to crime. While many visits are trouble-free, incidents of robbery, assault, and disappearances—particularly involving women traveling alone or in small groups—have drawn international concern. Families like the Konankis often face difficulties in navigating local legal systems while pushing for comprehensive investigations into their loved ones’ disappearances.
In missing persons cases, the likelihood of finding individuals often decreases as days pass, especially in suspected drownings or criminal abductions. The Dominican National Police typically deploy search teams, but families often seek private investigators or push for U.S. involvement when they feel local efforts are insufficient.
The Konanki case now falls in line with several other instances where tourists or U.S. citizens have gone missing in the Dominican Republic, leaving families desperate for answers and raising questions about the safety of travelers in the region.
