Searching for missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki, who disappeared on a spring break trip to the Dominican Republic, entered his fourth day on Monday.
According to the Dominican Republic National Police, the 20-year-old junior appeared last in the early morning of March 6 to enter the beach at the RIU Hotel in Punta Cana.
Police said Konanci and five friends from the university arrived in the Dominican Republic on March 3 and stayed in the same hotel.
The state police learned she disappeared Friday morning, using drones, helicopters, divers, boats and canine units to conduct a “exhaustive search” and aerial and land.
Police believe she and her friends disappeared at around 4:15 a.m. after being arrested during video surveillance entering the hotel’s beach area. Her friend returned to the hotel, but she didn’t.
The prosecutor’s office is interviewing her friend. Police also said they interviewed a young man who was on the beach around that time and tried to confirm his version of the activity.
“As aware of the disappearance of one of our guests,” the RIU hotel said in a statement on Sunday.
“From the moment she was reportedly absent, we have been working closely with local authorities, including the police and the navy, to conduct a thorough search,” the hotel said. “We want to express our deepest sympathy to family and friends during this extremely difficult time … we are completely committed to doing everything we can to assist in this situation.”
The hotel said it is supporting authorities in searches and has established an internal communication channel so that employees of the chain’s five Punta Cana hotels can share information with hotel leaders and authorities.
The Dominican Republic’s local emergency operations agency La Altagracia Civil Defense shared photos of multiple agencies searching for beaches over the weekend.
Konanki’s family lives in Virginia. According to Sheriff Michael Chapman, contacted the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia to report her disappearance.
He noted that Conkani’s parents were heading to Punta Cana. Konanki’s family declined to comment on her search.
He said authorities were combing out signs of her and her cell phone data through security camera videos.
“We certainly have experts in the U.S. who will look at all aspects of her phone, her friend’s phone, anyone she might be with to see exactly what might be happening there,” Chapman said.
Chapman said his office is working with authorities in the Dominican Republic and the U.S. State Department. The FBI said Dominican authorities are leading the investigation, but the bureau is “ready to assist our international partners in making any requests for assistance.”
Konanki’s five female friends plan to return to the U.S. on Friday, but stayed to help find her, sheriff’s office spokesman Thomas Julia said.
Authorities said it was not clear whether her disappearance was accidental or involved in a foul.
“Currently, it goes from accidental things to fouls,” Julia told NBC News. “This is currently being considered. There is no rule out.”
The University of Pittsburgh said it is in contact with Konanki’s family and providing support during the investigation. Chapman said the Indian embassy in the Dominican Republic is also helping with the investigation because Kang Ki is also a citizen of India.
