Spring break vacationers urged to take sure precautions amid seek for lacking American faculty pupil

FIRST ON FOX — Former U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Robin Bernstein, who served between 2018 and 2021, has a warning for spring breakers in gentle of the disappearance of American faculty pupil Sudiksha Konanki from Punta Cana on March 6.

Konanki, a 20-year-old College of Pittsburgh junior from Loudoun County, Virginia, was final seen strolling on a seashore outdoors the five-star RIU Republica Resort, the place she was staying with 5 feminine mates, within the early morning hours of March 6. She has but to be positioned.

“My feeling is that the Dominican Republic remains to be a secure place to be, and sadly, individuals, once they go on spring break or in the event that they go on trip, they do issues that they usually would not do at house,” Berstein advised Fox Information Digital. “Generally they do not make one of the best selections. We have now at all times advised individuals to exit in teams, keep in teams, sort of have a wingman.”

She additionally stated she “wouldn’t advise anyone to stroll alone on a seashore anyplace, truly, whether or not it’s Miami Seashore, Chicago, Mexico.”

MISSING AMERICAN IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: NO SUSPECTS AS SEARCH FOR SUDIKSHA KONANKI REACHES ONE WEEK

Sudiksha Konanki, 20, from northern Virginia, was first reported lacking on Thursday, March 6, after disappearing from a seashore within the Dominican Republic. (Handout, left, and Defensa Civil Dominicana, proper.)

Bernstein believes Dominican Republic regulation enforcement officers are “nice” and can work effectively with the FBI and Homeland Safety Investigations, that are additionally concerned within the seek for Konanki, in line with the Dominican Republic prosecutor’s workplace.

“The Dominican Republic is doing every little thing it will probably to assist carry this to a decision. The Dominicans actually simply transfer with lightning velocity.”

— Robin Bernstein

“I feel it is simply unlucky that nobody notified anybody till it was … a lot later within the day, that she was lacking,” Bernstein stated.

AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT DISAPPEARS IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: TIMELINE

U.S. faculty pupil Sudiksha Konanki went lacking whereas on trip together with her mates in Punta Cana on March 6, 2025. (Fox Information Graphics)

Konanki went to a lodge bar together with her mates simply earlier than she disappeared, presumably till the early morning hours of March 6. Surveillance cameras captured video of the faculty pupil strolling with a younger man, who had his arms wrapped round her shoulders, after 4 a.m. on March 6.

WATCH THE SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE:

“The final recorded picture of her was at 04:17 AM, when she was seen leaving a lodge bar in a gaggle heading in the direction of the seashore. RIU workers acted appropriately upon being notified of the disappearance, fulfilling their obligation to tell the authorities, with whom, as anticipated, cooperation has been absolute,” RIU Resorts & Resorts stated in an announcement.

HOTEL HORROR STORIES EMERGE AFTER AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT GOES MISSING AS RESORT INSISTS NO CONNECTION

Native authorities seek for lacking U.S. pupil Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on March 11, 2025. (Santiago Baez for Fox Information Digital)

Konanki was seen for the final time round 4:50 a.m. strolling on the seashore outdoors the RIU Republica, however her mates apparently didn’t report her lacking till about 12 hours later at 4 p.m. on March 6.

“Clearly, the earlier you could let any individual know and the police and the embassy’s concerned, the higher it’s for the lacking individual,” Bernstein stated. “… I am glad to listen to that the Loudon County Sheriff has additionally change into concerned as a result of I feel the extra minds concerned on one thing like this, velocity is actually essential. The longer it goes, the colder the case turns into.”

AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT MISSING IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC DIDN’T DROWN, NATALEE HOLLOWAY PRIVATE EYE BELIEVES 

Individuals get pleasure from time on the seashore on the RIU Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on March 11, 2025. (Santiago Baez for Fox Information Digital)

Bernstein prolonged her “deepest condolences to the household that’s experiencing such a tragedy.”

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“What was speculated to be a enjoyable trip has actually became a mother or father’s worst nightmare. I’ve three daughters myself, so … my coronary heart sort of stops each time I activate the TV,” she stated. “I simply hope that she’ll be discovered.”

Authorities within the Dominican Republic have stated there isn’t any suspect and it is a missing-person case, not a felony case. 

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Workplace shouldn’t be the lead company however stated it’s working with the FBI and was sending detectives to the Dominican Republic.

Authorities are asking anybody with info to contact the LCSO at 703-777-1021. To stay nameless, name the Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919.