Witness Claims He Saved Sudiksha Konanki Before She Vanished

A person who saw something connected to the vanishing of college student Sudiksha Konanki is providing additional information about that fateful night.

As officials continue their search for the University of Pittsburgh student who went missing on March 6 during her spring break in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, a witness has emerged to describe encountering the 20-year-old and her companions in the Hotel Riu Republica lobby before they all moved to a nearby bar together.

He told Dominican investigators, as reported by NBC News, that after they had “asked for some drinks,” someone proposed they visit the beach.

The individual (who isn’t classified as a suspect but is recognized as significant by the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, where his family resides) and Sudiksha ventured into the water, disregarding warnings about powerful waves signaled by red flags.

[Sudiksha] and I found ourselves neck-deep in water, exchanging a few tender kisses,” he explained. “Then, a powerful wave struck us, pushing us out towards the ocean as the water level rose. As soon as we managed to break the surface, we desperately tried to hail for help, but there was no one around.

The witness testified that he functioned as a lifeguard, then quickly reached for her and dragged her to safety, eventually bringing them both ashore.

After being moved by the sea, she collected her things. Despite not being fully out of the water, as it reached our knees, she walked at an incline in the water, the speaker explained. The last thing he remembered was asking if she was alright; unfortunately, he couldn’t discern her response due to his own retching from swallowing seawater.

According to the witness, it was the final occasion when he observed Sudiksha. He believed she had picked up her belongings and departed at that time. Following his sighting of her walking off, and as she moved into the water, he has not seen her since then.

The witness expressed that he was feeling quite exhausted and low, so he decided to take a nap on a beach chair. He explained that he was later woken up by the sun and mosquito bites. Afterward, he went to his friend’s room to retrieve his phone and then proceeded to his own room for more sleep.

It was during early morning hours that the man discovered Sudiksha was missing, as this fact was brought to his attention by a friend who inquired about her whereabouts. He had initially assumed she was in her room, but learned from his friend that she hadn’t come back.

A security camera captured images of Sudiksha and her companions entering the hotel’s beach area, as stated by the National Police. However, her friends departed towards the resort approximately 40 minutes later, whereas she remained with individuals she had encountered during their trip, according to Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman speaking to NBC Washington on March 10.

It was on the day Sudiksha went missing that her friends embarked on an outing. Around about 12 hours later, they noticed she wasn’t there anymore and alerted the hotel management. This information was shared by a representative from the National Police, as reported by NBC News.

In the ongoing case of the missing person, although the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office doesn’t have control over the investigation which isn’t classified as a criminal case, their detectives are actively participating in the search efforts on-site. The Dominican authorities stated on March 14 that they don’t utilize the term “person of interest” and no one is currently being viewed as a suspect regarding this matter, according to NBC News.

For a full timeline of events, read on…

Sudiksha Konanki traveled to the Dominican Republic on March 3.

A twenty-year-old student was traveling to the Dominican Republic along with five companions to mark the University of Pittsburgh’s spring vacation together.

Konanki had been staying at the Hotel Riu Palace Punta Cana, an all-inclusive resort.

After her vanishing, I’ve been actively collaborating with local authorities, such as the police and navy, in a comprehensive search effort. I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to her family and friends during these challenging times. Rest assured, we are wholeheartedly dedicated to offering every possible assistance in this situation.

On March 6, it was reported that Konanki went missing. This occurred after her friends had finished their early-morning beach stroll and returned without her. It’s thought she vanished sometime between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. on the same day.

After her disappearance, local authorities launched an investigation. Local emergency services reported initiating searches both on land and at sea, while a representative from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia (Konanki’s hometown) informed NBC News that investigations encompassed gathering video footage, examining cellphone data, and interviewing individuals who were with Konanki.

On March 9, officials told ABC News they believe Konanki died by drowning.

As per a police report, as mentioned by ABC News, during their beach stroll, many members of the group chose to return to the hotel at various points throughout the night, leaving Konanki with one friend. It is said that this duo then opted for a swim, and the police report indicates they were swept away by a large wave.

According to reports, the friends who were with Konanki were interrogated by the police, but they have yet to be accused of any crime.

After Konanki’s disappearance, her father, Subbarayudu Konanki, informed CNN that she was on a journey prior to starting her pre-medical studies.

He commented, “My child is genuinely kind-hearted.” He added, “She’s quite driven. Her dream is to build a career in the medical field.

2025-03-14 22:47

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