Sudiksha Konanki Case: US Police Intensify Search for Missing Student, Identify Last Person Seen with Her
Authorities in the United States have launched an extensive search for Sudiksha Konanki, an Indian-origin student at the University of Pittsburgh, who has been missing since March 6. She was last seen at the Riu Republica Hotel in Punta Cana, a well-known tourist destination in the Dominican Republic.
Investigators have identified Joshua Reebe, a 24-year-old US citizen, as the last person seen with Sudiksha. However, officials have clarified that this is not a criminal investigation. Reebe, a student at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, was vacationing in Punta Cana but was not part of Konanki’s original travel group.
Ongoing Investigation and Search Efforts
Sudiksha had traveled to Punta Cana on March 3 with friends to celebrate her summer break. US federal agencies, in collaboration with Dominican law enforcement, are actively investigating her disappearance. The FBI and Dominican National Police have questioned multiple individuals in connection with the case.
According to Chad Quinn, a spokesperson for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) in Virginia—Sudiksha’s hometown—Reebe was seen with Sudiksha at the resort before she went missing. However, authorities have not labeled him a suspect.
Sudiksha’s father, Subbarayudu Konanki, has urged investigators to consider the possibility of kidnapping, rather than assuming she drowned. He emphasized that Sudiksha had left her phone and wallet with her friends, which was unusual, as she always carried her phone.
What Has the Investigation Revealed So Far?
Police reports indicate that Reebe told investigators he and Sudiksha had gone swimming in the ocean, but they were suddenly hit by a large wave. While Reebe managed to return to the beach, he reportedly vomited and then fell asleep on a lounge chair. When he woke up, Sudiksha was gone.
Surveillance footage shows Reebe returning to his hotel room at 9:55 AM, but investigators have not classified him as a suspect in the case.
Authorities are re-questioning Sudiksha’s friends and others who were with her before she disappeared. Meanwhile, search operations have intensified, with drones, helicopters, and sniffer dogs scanning the waters off the island’s east coast for any trace of her.
The investigation remains ongoing as officials work to uncover what happened to Sudiksha Konanki.
