Pittsburgh school pupil’s disappearance within the Dominican Republic being handled as an accident, police say | EUROtoday

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The disappearance and reported drowning of 20-year-old school pupil Sudiksha Konanki within the Dominican Republic is being handled as an accident, in response to a brand new report.

But her distraught father is pleading with authorities to think about different choices, together with abduction.

Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh pupil, disappeared on a Spring Break journey with 5 mates at a resort in Punta Cana. Investigators consider Konanki drowned early Thursday, regulation enforcement sources informed ABC News over the weekend.

Since then, investigators have discovered her garments on a mattress close to the seashore the place she was final seen, ABC News reported Tuesday. Following an preliminary investigation, her disappearance is at the moment being handled as an accident, police informed ABC.

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Police say Konanki, a everlasting U.S. resident and Indian citizen, went to a nightclub on Wednesday night time along with her mates. Afterward, Konanki and a gaggle of individuals went to the seashore round 4 a.m. Konanki’s mates returned to their lodge room simply earlier than 6 a.m., ABC News reviews, whereas Konanki stayed on the seashore with a person.

That man informed police he went for a swim with Konanki, who was swept up by an enormous wave, ABC News reported. After he returned to the seashore, he threw up and went to sleep on a seashore mattress. When he awoke, he stated Konanki was nowhere to be discovered.

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He returned to his lodge room simply earlier than 9 a.m., surveillance footage exhibits.

Police have since interviewed him, and he’s cooperating with the investigation, National Police spokesman Diego Pesqueira informed ABC News. He isn’t a suspect within the case, stated the chief of the Civil Defense within the Dominican Republic.

Investigators additionally interviewed Konanki’s mates, who have been additionally not suspects as of Tuesday.

But Konanki’s father isn’t satisfied she drowned. Subbarayudu Konanki informed WTOP he filed a grievance with police to widen the investigation.

“It’s four days, and if she was in water, she would likely have been strewn to shore,” he stated. “She’s not found, so we’re asking them to investigate multiple options, like kidnapping or abduction.”

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“While it is possible that Sudiksha drowned, there is a growing suspicion that there may be a crime, specifically the possibility of kidnapping,” his grievance states.

He beforehand informed CNN his daughter had ambitions of turning into a health care provider.

“My daughter is a very nice girl,” he stated. “She’s ambitious. She wanted to pursue a career in medicine.”

The FBI, the U.S. Embassy within the Dominican Republic, the Dominican National Police and the Dominican Prosecutor’s workplace are all investigating her disappearance.