LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. (WUSA) – Authorities in the Dominican Republic are searching for a 20-year-old college student from Virginia after she disappeared while on spring break.
Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old student at the University of Pittsburgh, was reported missing Thursday in the resort town of Punta Cana. She was last seen walking along the beach in the early morning.
Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman says Konanki was visiting the Caribbean island-nation over spring break with five college friends. It’s unclear if she was swept away or if foul play was involved.
“It’s possible she never went into the water. It’s possible that there is something else that could have happened, so we can’t just assume that’s the case. We have to presume that, at this point, anything is possible, and that’s why we’re looking at every single option,” Chapman said.
Konanki’s parents traveled to the Dominican Republic, according to a family friend who says they are devastated by their daughter’s disappearance and are desperately looking for her.
Search efforts will continue Monday morning.
A spokesperson for the University of Pittsburgh says they’ve been in touch with Konanki’s family and officials in Loudoun County as the search continues.
“We have offered our full support in their efforts to find her and bring her home safely,” the spokesperson said.
Chapman says his office has been working closely with Dominican officials, the FBI, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Indian embassy. He encourages anyone traveling overseas to check for travel advisories and always make sure someone knows where you are at all times.
“We’re just hoping and praying that we find her. That’s the outcome we want. I mean, she’s a Loudoun County resident, so we take the incident very seriously as it is and even more seriously because she’s one of ours,” Chapman said.
The U.S. State Department has a Level 2 travel advisory in place for the Dominican Republic due to crime, particularly armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault. Travelers are encouraged to exercise caution and be aware of heightened risks to safety and security.
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