A sheriff in Virginia is pushing back against the narrative that a missing University of Pittsburgh student from his county drowned in the Dominican Republic, saying that it is “too early to rule anything out.”
Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman told Fox News’ Aishah Hasnie on “America Reports” that they are “pursuing every angle” in the disappearance of 20-year-old Virginia native Sudiksha Konanki, who was last seen on a beach in Punta Cana.
“As you know, the Dominican authorities are working hard. They’re conducting interviews and looking over phones and trying to get the best information available,” he said. “We’re working with our officers and our State Department and our U.S. Embassy down there and the FBI and others that have been all part of this thing since this investigation began.”
Konanki was on vacation with five other female University of Pittsburgh students before her disappearance in the early morning hours on March 6, officials said.
On Monday, authorities in the Dominican Republic were using drones, helicopters and dogs to search for Konanki, the Associated Press reported.
“The search is underway at sea because it’s presumed she drowned. According to the boy who was with her, the waves swept her away, but that is under police investigation,” Jensen Sánchez, a Civil Defense spokesperson, told the AP.
Konanki’s parents flew to Punta Cana after learning about their daughter’s disappearance, according to WTOP. Her father, Subbarayudu Konanki, and a family friend reportedly filed a complaint on Sunday calling for local police to expand the investigation.
“It’s four days, and if she was in water, she would likely have been strewn to shore,” Konanki’s father told WTOP. “She’s not found, so we’re asking them to investigate multiple options, like kidnapping or abduction.”
“Her belongings, including personal items like her phone and wallet, were left with her friends, which is unusual because she always carried her phone with her,” the outlet quoted her father writing in the complaint. “In light of these circumstances, I respectfully request that the authorities take immediate steps to investigate not only the possibility of an accidental drowning, but also the possibility of a kidnapping or foul play.”
