University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki went missing in the Dominican Republic after heading to the beach at the five-star Riu Republica resort in Punta Cana. The resort had been flying red flags indicating strong currents and big waves. Even when the green flag was up, conditions could change suddenly due to unpredictable currents. Local charter boat captain Yuri explained that the area had netting installed to keep swimmers safe, but portions of the beach were unprotected, and there was a coral reef that could cause stronger currents. Sharks were uncommon in the area, but not unheard of, especially as boats were not active at night.
The location of Punta Cana on the Mona Passage between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean made the swell in the area erratic and difficult to forecast. This meant that it was hard to predict where items might wash up if someone was carried away by the currents. Meteorologist Andrew Wulfeck noted that swells of between 4 and 6 feet were coming from the north and east on the morning of Konanki’s disappearance. The swells shifted toward the east and south in the following days. Authorities were urging the public not to jump to conclusions as the investigation continued, especially since Konanki would likely have washed ashore or been found if she had drowned.
A person of interest, an American college student who was the last person seen with Konanki before she vanished, has been questioned by authorities. The investigation is currently a missing person case and has not been deemed a criminal matter. Konanki was last seen on security footage walking toward the beach with a group of friends after drinking at the hotel bar. While her friends returned to the hotel around 6 a.m., the person of interest came back alone. Konanki was reported missing by her friends later that day, prompting a search effort that involved local police, the FBI, and detectives from her hometown in Virginia.
The unpredictable nature of the currents in the area made it difficult to determine Konanki’s whereabouts after her disappearance. The investigation continued as authorities searched the coastline with boats, dive teams, and helicopters. While early reports suggested she may have drowned, experts believed she would have been found if that were the case. The search for Konanki was ongoing, and authorities were cautioning against making assumptions as they worked to uncover what had happened to the missing student. Beth Holloway, known for her own daughter’s disappearance, identified key differences between the cases and emphasized the need for vigilance as the investigation progressed.
