Sudiksha Konanki‘s disappearance is raising more questions.
Amid the search for a University of Pittsburgh student who went missing during a spring break trip to the Dominican Republic March 6, Loudon County, Va., Sheriff Mike Chapman shared his concern about “inconsistencies” in witness statements.
“It’s my understanding that the people that were with her and witnesses that were there have been interviewed several times,” the official—who works in the county Konanki’s family lives in—shared on NewsNation’s Banfield March 10. “I believe on several occasions there have been some inconsistencies with their very own stories. That does bother me here, which really begs the question, what really happened there?”
Among those interviewed by authorities were the five friends of the 20-year-old’s who entered the beach area of the RIU hotel in Punta Cana with her at 4:15 a.m.—where she was last scene—as well as an unnamed young man who was also on the beach with them, the Dominican Republic National Police shared in a press release.
Chapman noted on NewsNation that since the incident occurred in another country, Loudon County is “engaged” with their counterparts from the Dominican Republic, the U.S. Embassy in the Caribbean region, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
While Chapman shared that he doesn’t have “any direct communication with the witnesses myself or any firsthand knowledge,” his office has learned a lot from the federal officials conducting the interviews. He added, “There is some concern, obviously, with inconsistencies in the stories, and it is starting to really evolve.”
“It is a joint effort down there, and we are trying to get to the bottom of it,” he emphasized. “We’re trying to get some consistency with the statements here. If you give inconsistent statements, that means that you’re not telling the truth there. What we got to do is get to the facts here and see what’s going on.”
Despite three officials from the Dominican Republic involved in the investigation telling ABC News that they believe Konanki, whose body has not been recovered, died by drowning, Chapman emphasized that there is no conclusive answer yet.
“I think it’s way too premature to make an assumption like that,” he explained. “There has been no sighting of her in any capacity here. So, it’s very important that we go through all this like we do some detailed investigation. We are working closely with Dominican authorities.”
“We do have our folks that are hand-in-hand with them down there, so we’re trying to get the best information we can,” he continued. “But we’re not the lead on it. It’s their country and until we get something more concrete, it’s a little difficult working through somebody else.”
Although Chapman is grateful that so many resources have been poured into the search, he also noted that it has its own problems.
“We want to try to do everything in our power to get to the bottom of it,” he explained. “It’s been challenging because it’s good that we have so many people working on it, but it’s also difficult because that also creates confusion.”
Read on for a full breakdown of the ongoing search for Konanki.
Where Did Sudiksha Konanki Travel to for Spring Break?
Sudiksha Konanki, a junior in biology at the University of Pittsburgh, traveled to the Dominican Republic on March 3 during spring break.
Who Did Sudiksha Konanki Travel With?
The 20-year-old headed to the Dominican Republic with five friends to celebrate the University of Pittsburgh’s spring break.
Where Was Sudiksha Konanki Staying?
Konanki had been staying at the Hotel Riu Palace Punta Cana, an all-inclusive resort.
Following her disappearance, the hotel told NBC News, “We have been working closely with the local authorities, including the police and the navy, to conduct a thorough search. We would like to express our deepest sympathy to the family and friends during this incredibly difficult time … we are fully committed to doing everything in our power to assist in this situation.”
A hotel spokesperson shared with the outlet that prior to the incident, red flags, which indicated that “the sea had a strong current and very high waves,” were flying on the beach to warn guests.
When Was Sudiksha Konanki Reported Missing?
Konanki was reported missing on March 6 after her friends returned from a beach walk without her. She is believed to have disappeared between the hours of 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. that morning.
When Did Search and Rescue Efforts Begin for Sudiksha Konanki?
Following her disappearance, local officials began an investigation. Local civil defense confirmed it had begun searches on land and by sea, while a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office in Loudoun County in Virginia—where Konanki was from—told NBC News their investigations included obtaining video, going through cellphone evidence and talking to people who were with Konanki.
What Do Officials Believe May Have Happened to Sudiksha Konanki?
Although a body has not been recovered, three Dominican Republic officials—who are leading the investigation—told ABC News on March 9 that they believe Konanki died by drowning.
However, Loudoun County Public Information Officer Thomas Julia told NBC News that they have “an obligation to look at all possibilities, interview all parties and look at all phones that may provide info of value and are doing so.”
What Have Key Figures Told Police About Sudiksha Konanki’s Night on the Beach?
Joshua Riibe, a key witness in the search for Konanki, shared their encounter on the beach with Dominican authorities, alleging that while at the beach with a friend and Konanki’s party of six, he and Konanki were swept into a current while kissing and talking in “waist-deep water.”
“When I finally reached the ground on the beach, I pulled her in front of me,” Riibe told authorities, according to a transcript viewed by E! News.“She went to gather her belongings since the sea had moved us. She wasn’t out of the water, as it was up to our knees.”
“She was walking at an angle in the water,” he continued. “The last time I saw her, I asked if she was OK. I didn’t hear her answer because I started vomiting all the seawater I’d swallowed.”
The St. Cloud State University student said he fell asleep on a nearby beach chair and believed she returned to her room. “My friend asked me if I knew where the girl was,” he said. “I told him I thought she had gone to her room, and he told me she never returned.”
What Has Sudiksha Konanki’s Family Said About the Case?
Following Konanki’s disappearance, her father Subbarayudu Konanki told CNN his daughter had been traveling before beginning pre-med studies.
“My daughter is a very nice girl,” he said. “She’s ambitious. She wanted to pursue a career in medicine.”
However, more than 10 days after her disappearance, her loved ones asked Dominican Republic authorities to declare her dead, a police spokesperson Diego Pesqueira told NBC News March 17, sending a letter requesting the declaration of death.
