Lacking American faculty scholar’s spring break disappearance ‘too early’ to rule drowning: Virginia sheriff

A sheriff in Virginia is pushing again towards the narrative {that a} lacking College of Pittsburgh scholar from his county drowned within the Dominican Republic, saying that it’s “too early to rule something out.”

Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman advised Fox Information’ Aishah Hasnie on “America Studies” that they’re “pursuing each angle” within the disappearance of 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki, who was final seen on a seashore in Punta Cana.

“As you understand, the Dominican authorities are working onerous. They’re conducting interviews and searching over telephones and making an attempt to get the most effective data obtainable,” he stated. “We’re working with our officers and our State Division and our U.S. Embassy down there and the FBI and others which were all a part of this factor since this investigation started.”

Konanki was on trip with 5 different feminine College of Pittsburgh college students earlier than her disappearance within the early morning hours on March 6, officers stated.

AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT BELIEVED TO HAVE DROWNED IN BIG WAVE: REPORT

Sudiksha Konanki in a Fb selfie picture. The 20-year-old College of Pittsburgh junior has been lacking since March 6, when she vanished throughout a spring break journey to a five-star resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (Sudiksha Konanki/Fb)

Konanki, who was learning pre-med, was final seen strolling alongside the seashore on the Caribbean island, three Dominican officers advised ABC Information.

One particular person allegedly stayed behind along with her till the early morning hours, the outlet reported, citing an investigative police report. Authorities within the Dominican Republic stated that Konanki and this particular person went for a swim and have been caught in an enormous wave.

PITT STUDENT VANISHES ON SPRING BREAK TRIP TO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WHILE WALKING ON BEACH 

Investigators later have been questioning a “younger man” who went into the waters of the seashore across the time Konanki vanished, the Dominican Republic newspaper Listin Diario reported. 

Chapman stated that they wish to “flip over each rock” earlier than concluding what occurred to Konanki, declining to touch upon whom authorities questioned.

“Earlier than we touch upon who precisely they’re speaking to, and what sort of data they’re getting at this level is simply too untimely,” he stated.

Sudiksha Konanki seems in an undated picture on her TikTok profile. She was final seen on March 6 at a resort seashore in Punta Cana. (@sudikshakonanki/TikTok)

On Monday, authorities within the Dominican Republic have been utilizing drones, helicopters and canine to seek for Konanki, the Related Press reported. 

“The search is underway at sea as a result of it is presumed she drowned. In keeping with the boy who was along with her, the waves swept her away, however that’s underneath police investigation,” Jensen Sánchez, a Civil Protection spokesperson, advised the AP.

Konanki’s dad and mom flew to Punta Cana after studying about their daughter’s disappearance, in keeping with WTOP. Her father, Subbarayudu Konanki, and a household good friend reportedly filed a criticism on Sunday calling for native police to increase the investigation.

“It’s 4 days, and if she was in water, she would doubtless have been strewn to shore,” Konanki’s father advised WTOP. “She’s not discovered, so we’re asking them to analyze a number of choices, like kidnapping or abduction.”

“Her belongings, together with private objects like her cellphone and pockets, have been left along with her buddies, which is uncommon as a result of she at all times carried her cellphone along with her,” the outlet quoted her father writing within the criticism. “In gentle of those circumstances, I respectfully request that the authorities take instant steps to analyze not solely the potential for an unintended drowning, but in addition the potential for a kidnapping or foul play.” 

Vacationers stroll alongside the shore of the seashore partially coated by sargassum at Bibijagua Seashore in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on Could 20, 2023.  (FELIX LEON/AFP through Getty Photographs)

U.S. Division of State – Journey Advisory

School college students are flocking to in style spring break locations exterior america, together with Cancún, Mexico and Punta Cana. The locations – whereas providing trip choices for faculty college students – are underneath journey advisories of the U.S. Division of State.

The Dominican Republic has a Stage 2 journey advisory, which implies vacationers are to train elevated warning throughout their go to and pay attention to “heightened dangers to security and safety.”

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“The huge availability of weapons, the use and commerce of illicit medication and a weak legal justice system contribute to the excessive degree of criminality on the broader scale,” in keeping with the journey advisory.

Fox Information Digital’s Greg Norman contributed to this report.