Sudiksha Konanki was likely on the beach when she vanished due to a power outage that disabled security systems: report
University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki was likely only on the beach where she went missing because of a power outage at her Dominican Republic resort — one that also disabled some security systems and cameras, according to a report.
The power went out at Riu República Hotel into the early hours of March 6, the day many guests — including Konanki, 20, and her friends — left the darkened Punta Cana hotel for the beach,
Because the beach area is usually off limits at night, it meant it was unsupervised — and the outage also disrupted lighting, security systems and surveillance cameras, the local outlet said.
Here is the latest information on missing Pitt student, Sudiksha Konanki:
- University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki was on spring break in Punta Cana prior to her disappearance.
- Konanki, from Virginia, and her pals went onto the beach from a disco at the Riu Republica Hotel early in the morning following a power outage.
- She was last seen with Joshua Steven Riibe from Iowa, who was named “a person of interest.”
- Sheriff Mike Chapman of Konanki’s hometown in Loudoun County, Virginia, has previously said it is too early to determine if she had drowned.
- Konanki’s parents asked Dominican Republic officials to declare her dead despite her body not being recovered.
- Riibe was officially cleared of wrongdoing Konanki’s disappearance.
The power was still out around 4 a.m., when Konanki was last seen walking along the beach with a group of pals. She was also pictured with her arm around a man in the last known image of her before she vanished.
Follow the latest on the search for missing Pitt student Sudiksha Konanki:
- Joshua Riibe detained in Puerto Rico as his frustrated dad tells reporters to leave them alone after Sudiksha Konanki’s disappearance
- Josh Riibe is ‘free to leave’ the DR after being held in Sudiksha Konanki disappearance, judge rules
- Sudiksha Konanki’s parents reveal they now think she drowned and that Josh Riibe wasn’t responsible
- Parents of missing Pitt student Sudiksha Konanki ask DR officials to declare daughter dead
- Joshua Riibe officially cleared in Pitt student Sudiksha Konanki’s disappearance in the DR
She had been with six other people on the beach Wednesday before most of the group called it a night, leaving her on the sand alone with Joshua Steven Riibe, a fellow guest at the Caribbean resort who gave cops conflicting stories about what transpired when it was just the two of them on the beach.
Police have not said if they suspect foul play. The FBI joined in on the search on Tuesday.
Dominican President Luis Abinader said he was “concerned” about the situation.
“All government agencies are searching … because the latest information we have from one of them, from the last person who was with the young woman, what he says according to the reports is that a wave, while on the beach, crashed into them,” he said Monday during his weekly meeting with the press.
Dominican authorities have speculated that the pre-med student likely drowned after jumping into the ocean in a brown bikini, while her father has called to expand search efforts over his “growing suspicion” that she was kidnapped.