Missing Student in Punta Cana: A Puzzle in Paradise

A young woman from the University of Pittsburgh vanished during a spring break trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Sudiksha Konanki, 20, was last seen on a beach with friends. She disappeared between 3 a. m. and 5 a. m. on a Thursday morning. Her friends returned to the hotel, but she did not. This happened last week. The five friends that she was with decided to stay in the Dominican Republic to help with the search. The Dominican Republic is a popular tourist destination, but it also has a reputation for crime. It is classified as a level 2 in the State Department's four-tier travel advisory rubric, meaning travelers are advised to exercise "increased caution" when traveling there. It warns that violent crime is a concern throughout the country. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office in Virginia is working with Dominican authorities and state and federal agencies, including the State Department. The FBI has also offered to help. Police are looking at all possible reasons for her disappearance. They are examining video footage, cellphone evidence, and talking to people who were with her. The Indian Embassy in the Dominican Republic is also involved in the investigation. The search is being coordinated by La Altagracia Civil Defense, the local Dominican Republic emergency operations agency. Several brigades have been deployed by sea and land to find the missing student. The University of Pittsburgh has offered their support to the family and authorities. They urged anyone with information to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff's Office has been in contact with the family and has offered their full support in their efforts to find her and bring her home safely. The Dominican Republic is a popular tourist destination, but it also has a reputation for crime. It is classified as a level 2 in the State Department's four-tier travel advisory rubric, meaning travelers are advised to exercise "increased caution" when traveling there. It warns that violent crime is a concern throughout the country. The Sheriff's Office hopes for a positive outcome, but they really don't know where it's going to go just yet.