Originally appeared on E! Online
Sudiksha Konanki’s story is believed to have come to a heartbreaking end.
It is believed that the University of Pittsburgh student—who was reported missing during a spring break trip to the Dominican Republic—died by drowning, officials told ABC News on Mar. 9.
Per the outlet, three officials from the Dominican Republic involved in the investigation said Konanki was walking on the beach with six other people on March 5 before she is believed to have drowned in the ocean.
According to a police report, cited by ABC News, most of the group went back to the hotel at some point during the night but one friend remained with Konanki, and the pair decided to go for a swim. The police report notes the pair were caught by a big wave.
The Dominican Republic Public Ministry told ABC News the last time Konanki, 20, was seen on the beach on security camera footage was around 4:15 in the morning of Mar. 6.
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Officials reportedly said the friends who had been with Konanki have been questioned by police but have not been charged with anything.
E! News has reached out to local officials for comment but has not yet heard back.
Facebook / Sudiksha Konanki
Konanki was reported missing the morning of March 6 with officials believing she vanished between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. that morning, a Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Thomas Julia told NBC News. At the time, the spokesperson noted authorities are looking at all possibilities.
“Right now it runs the gamut from something accidental to foul play,” Julia said. “It is all at this point under consideration. Nothing’s been ruled out.”
He added that the investigation’s priorities included obtaining video, going through cellphone evidence and talking to people who were with Konanki.
As Konanki was a citizen of India, the Indian embassy had gotten involved in the investigation, according to NBC News, while the University of Pittsburgh was likewise standing by.
Facebook/Defensa Civil La Altagracia
“University officials are in contact with Sudiksha Konanki’s family as well as authorities in Loudoun County, Virginia,” a spokesperson for the school told the outlet. “And we have offered our full support in their efforts to find her and bring her home safely.”
Following Konanki’s disappearance, her father Subbarayudu Konanki told CNN, “My daughter is a very nice girl. She’s ambitious. She wanted to pursue a career in medicine.”
(E! and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
For more on the tragic case, keep reading.
Where Did Sudiksha Konanki Travel to for Spring Break?
Sudiksha Konanki traveled to the Dominican Republic on March 3.
Who Did Sudiksha Konanki Travel With?
The 20-year-old headed to the Dominican Republic with five friends to celebrate the Universtiy of Pittsburgh’s spring break.
Where Was Sudiksha Konanki Staying?
Konanki had been staying at the Hotel Riu Palace Punta Cana, an all-inclusive resort.
Following her disappearance, the hotel told NBC News, “We have been working closely with the local authorities, including the police and the navy, to conduct a thorough search. We would like to express our deepest sympathy to the family and friends during this incredibly difficult time … we are fully committed to doing everything in our power to assist in this situation.”
When Was Sudiksha Konanki Reported Missing?
Konanki was reported missing on March 6 after her friends returned from a beach walk without her. It is believed to have disappeared between the hours of 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. that morning.
When Did Search and Rescue Efforts Begin for Sudiksha Konanki?
Following her disappearance, local officials began an investigation. Local civil defense confirmed it had begun searches on land and by sea, while a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Officy in Loudoun County in Virigina—where Konanki was from—told NBC News investigations included obtaining video, going through cellphone evidence and talking to people who were with Konanki.
What Do Officials Believe May Have Happened to Sudiksha Konanki?
On March 9, officials told ABC News they believe Konanki died by drowning.
According to a police report, cited by ABC News, during the walk on the beach, most of the group decided to go back to the hotel at some point during the night while one friend remained with Konanki. The pair reportedly decided to go for a swim, and the police report notes the pair were caught by a big wave.
Officials reportedly said the friends who had been with Konanki were questioned by police but had not been charged with anything.
What Has Sudiksha Konanki’s Family Said About the Case?
Following Konanki’s disappearance, her father Subbarayudu Konanki told CNN his daughter had been traveling before beginning pre-med studies.
“My daughter is a very nice girl,” he said. “She’s ambitious. She wanted to pursue a career in medicine.”
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