DR, Sudiksha Konanki, 20, Punta Cana, 6 March 2025

[stygianowl]

Presuming she wanted to keep her clothes dry and placed them above the surf line, it would have needed to of been a tremendous wave to carry her out.

Such waves do occur on Pacific beaches and have drowned a number of people. I dont know how often they occur in the Gulf of Mexico ( Yikes, politics, but that is the historical name before there was a "Mexico" or a "United States" as nations).

I agree, with your concerns about jumping to a conclusion of "presumed guilty".

But.... its also equally detrimental to operate under: Well, she could have drowned. So, nobody should question the POIs claims about anything.

The beach there fronts on the Atlantic Ocean, not the Gulf of Mexico.

 

[whitelilac]

Ya know, I accept that almost anywhere one travels in the world, there's a chance they could be a victim of an accident or a crime. But I can't accept someone who works in tourism dismissing a discussion of this tragedy and blaming the victim. Her attitude would make me remove the DR as a possible tourist destination simply because if something were to happen to me there, I couldn't bear any of my family or friends hearing my life discussed like this.

This woman is tone deaf, and obviously does not have any children. IMO

 

[NoviceCrimeWatcher]

Seems like some stakeholders are looking to victim blame as well. Unreal:

Dominican politician makes shock remark about missing American student

Sudiksha Konanki vanished in the early hours of March 6, sparking a frantic search and investigation in and around the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana.

www.dailymail.co.uk

A Dominican senator desperate to retain tourism said that missing American student Sudiksha Konanki had it coming when she vanished in a shocking on-air rant.

***

'There was obviously a red flag on the beach. What were those young people looking for with a red flag at four in the morning on the beach? A red flag means everywhere, the world knows this: don't go to the beach.'

***

She went on to criticize media outlets reporting Konanki's disappearance, insisting they are instead 'trying to discredit the destination.

'We have many enemies, and any little thing that happens here - how many people, how many things haven't happened to tourists in different parts of the world?'

In a direct plea to social media networks in the Dominican Republic, Bournigal warned them to 'be careful' about what they are posting.

'Be careful with that. Be careful. Let's all be careful. The Dominican Republic, today, it's a safe island.

I don't mean to discredit this statement BUT haven't 5 (potentially 6 now) people drowned within the last 3 months? Is this really a safe island?

 

[kaen]

Seems like some stakeholders are looking to victim blame as well. Unreal:

Dominican politician makes shock remark about missing American student

Sudiksha Konanki vanished in the early hours of March 6, sparking a frantic search and investigation in and around the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana.

www.dailymail.co.uk

A Dominican senator desperate to retain tourism said that missing American student Sudiksha Konanki had it coming when she vanished in a shocking on-air rant.

***

'There was obviously a red flag on the beach. What were those young people looking for with a red flag at four in the morning on the beach? A red flag means everywhere, the world knows this: don't go to the beach.'

***

She went on to criticize media outlets reporting Konanki's disappearance, insisting they are instead 'trying to discredit the destination.

'We have many enemies, and any little thing that happens here - how many people, how many things haven't happened to tourists in different parts of the world?'

In a direct plea to social media networks in the Dominican Republic, Bournigal warned them to 'be careful' about what they are posting.

'Be careful with that. Be careful. Let's all be careful. The Dominican Republic, today, it's a safe island.

I find the ranting posture offensive but I can understand why a politician would be eager to make the case that it is not the resort or the island to blame. People from around the world come to these island paradise hotels and most don't think about the inherent dangers of the ocean or the mountains or the wildlife. People are excited to have adventures and memories. We see that at Yellowstone when someone is gored by bison or falls into a hot spring despite the warnings. To add to the vacation feel many people are drinking all day long especially if they are at an all-inclusive where you don't have to pony up for drinks. Guests would not want to be bothered by security or hotel staff trying to clear the beach on their romantic getaway or spring break fling. Vacation destinations are always trying to hit a balance of fun and safety so they warn but do little to step in. The murder of Natalee Holloway was jarring in its safety issues and changed lots about locals on private hotel lands but use of the water is something that islands have to continually monitor so the paradise feel remains and the tourists return. In recent years, there was the guy who brought his girlfriend to the island and most likely killed her in the water before he left (I think he was from FL.) because it was easy to make it look like an accident (and would have been harder to do on a beach in the US with more restrictive use).

If the reports are correct that the waves were higher than 4 feet, it was a very dangerous scenario for any persons but moreso for people who have had lots to drink. Reaction time is slowed and decision making is flawed. I don't think we will ever know if this was an accident, combination of accident and crime or a crime as the details will only be told by one person who was on a dark beach with an unforgiving tide/current. I don't ascribe to a rogue wave theory.

My gut says they were in deeper water (thigh high or pelvis high), hanging out, and some transgression occurred between them. In his drunkness he got disoriented by the push/pull movements with the water, got sick, and left her because he was sick and peeved. She was then on her own in higher than ankle water, bobbing, swaying and maybe angry/p'o-ed at the situation --unsteady, which resulted in her drowning. It is not hard to drown when you are inebriated--you slip and fall, flail, get shocked by the water temp on your whole body, and can't think straight to make decisions that might help you rather than harm you. The young man's story of getting tossed in the waves, throwing up, and quickly falling asleep on the chaise doesn't make sense because in the video going to the beach they were arm in arm and very chummy. If they were still chummy in the water, they would have been already holding on to each other and he would have more than noticed she was gone. JMHO.

 

[kaen]

I don't mean to discredit this statement BUT haven't 5 (potentially 6 now) people drowned within the last 3 months? Is this really a safe island?

The island maybe safe BUT like all water, especially tidal, ocean water, is not safe or something to be assumed as not a hazard. Drowning is a real danger and happens silently and quickly. It is why there are lifeguards and red flags that should be heeded. JMHO.

 

[arielilane]

Posted 22 hours ago

@CBSNews


New surveillance footage has surfaced in the case of University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki, who has been missing in the Dominican Republic for nearly a week. Konanki was vacationing in Punta Cana with friends for spring break when she disappeared.

Surveillance footage from March 6 shows Konanki walking to the beach with her friends, arm-in-arm with an American man who she met on the trip. The friends were shown returning to the hotel without Konanki, and many hours later the man was seen returning to the hotel, also without Konanki.

Local authorities have been searching by land, air and sea for the missing student. Konanki's family has come to Punta Cana, insisting authorities look into all scenarios, including foul play.

https://cbsn.ws/4hwN5Ae

https://twitter.com/x/status/1899973689208082577

 

[PrairieWind]

Presuming she wanted to keep her clothes dry and placed them above the surf line, it would have needed to of been a tremendous wave to carry her out.

Such waves do occur on Pacific beaches and have drowned a number of people. I dont know how often they occur in the Gulf of Mexico ( Yikes, politics, but that is the historical name before there was a "Mexico" or a "United States" as nations).

I agree, with your concerns about jumping to a conclusion of "presumed guilty".

But.... its also equally detrimental to operate under: Well, she could have drowned. So, nobody should question the POIs claims about anything.

DR is quite a ways from the Gulf of America/Mexico.

 

[whitelilac]

Earlier I looked online to see what the shark situation was there. There are but rarely closer to shore, due to a reef that extends along the coast.
Lots of descriptions of the excellent diving there.

I wonder if underwater searches by divers have been done in the vicinity of those coral reefs. It's possible she is snagged somewhere.
It pains me to even suggest that.

 

[browneyes]

Earlier I looked online to see what the shark situation was there. There are but rarely closer to shore, due to a reef that extends along the coast.
Lots of description of the excellent diving there.

I wonder if underwater searches by divers have been done in the vicinity of those coral reefs. It's possible she is snagged somewhere.
It pains me to even suggest that.

I mean this with respect, this case is literally the opening scene of JAWS. I pray she is found soon, but oceans can become death traps in minutes. At Myrtle Beach in 2023, a young woman got caught in a rip tide, broad daylight and right outside of our balcony. Her cousin went in to help her and she made it out but he drowned. It was so distressing. They were having a family reunion and the whole family was on the beach just a few yards from our balcony. His body washed ashore the next day. It just happened so fast.

 

[CityKid]

I don't mean to discredit this statement BUT haven't 5 (potentially 6 now) people drowned within the last 3 months? Is this really a safe island?

Out of over 10 million tourists a year, most of whom come for the beach resorts, The three who died in January were swimming together on a "red flag" day; another member of that group survived. I don't think that's any more dangerous than other vacation spots IMO.

Tourism in the Dominican Republic - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Dominican Republic beach where Pitt student disappeared has already claimed 3 tourists’ lives this year – and only 1 body was recovered: report

The surf at the popular Punta Cana beach in the Dominican Republic where Pitt student Sudiksha Konanki went missing last week has claimed lives in the past.

nypost.com

 

[Cryptic]

Seems like some stakeholders are looking to victim blame as well. Unreal:

Though perhaps not the uhhmmm....."best phrased" declaration, I sympathize with the Dominican official. Reading between the lines, he seems to be saying:

- Tourism is a big part of our economy. Maybe like Microsoft is to Seattle.
- We work very hard to make things safe for tourists. In fact, tourists receive more police response than our own citizens- well most of our citizens. But.....

- Tourists, even American tourists, need to be a just a little pro active with their own safety. Red flags on beaches are there for reasons.

- Hotel employees wont be going door to door explaining in multiple languages what Red Flags mean.

- Get in trouble in the water? We"ll do our best. But.... this is not the US of A. We don't maintain a small army of ocean life guards life guards equipped with the latest jet skis. We don't have squadrons of new helicopters loaded down with the latest rescue gear and ubber hi tech "find it" sensors.

 

[Cryptic]

DR is quite a ways from the Gulf of America/Mexico.

Yikes, you are right. I stand corrected.

 

[CityKid]

Though perhaps not the uhhmmm....."best phrased" declaration, I sympathize with the Dominican official. Reading between the lines, he seems to be saying:

- Tourism is a big part of our economy. Maybe like Microsoft is to Seattle.
- We work very hard to make things safe for tourists. In fact, tourists receive more police response than our own citizens- well most of our citizens. But.....

- Tourists, even American tourists, need to be a just a little pro active with their own safety. Red flags on beaches are there for reasons.

- Hotel employees wont be going door to door explaining in multiple languages what Red Flags mean.

- Get in trouble in the water? We"ll do our best. But.... this is not the US of A. We don't maintain a small army of ocean life guards life guards equipped with the latest jet skis. We don't have squadrons of new helicopters loaded down with the latest rescue gear and ubber hi tech "find it" sensors.

You're right, and I think I was a bit harsh in my prior comment, which was mostly due to her wording. IMO, it came off as, "She swam when red flags were out; what did she expect?"

 

[swanniee11]

IMO, I think everyone, the Media, politicians even some statements by LE need to tone it down and get their crap together. If this was my daughter or son and the stuff being said about either of them would lead me to look into Legal Action. Let's say she didn't drown and he had nothing to do with her missing. Ginnette Bournigal, the senator of Puerto Plata telling the locals to be careful on what they say and that SK should have known due to a red flag, LE naming someone then backtracking and MSM to posting all kinds of different stories, this is so irresponsible IMO. I usually want to hear from all of these parties but everyone seems to hold their own CYA and "this is what happened" story with nothing that can be confirmed. IMO. I have no clue who if anyone is responsible, I have yet to hear of any info to lead me in a direction.

 

[nightowl2728]

IMO, I think everyone, the Media, politicians even some statements by LE need to tone it down and get their crap together. If this was my daughter or son and the stuff being said about either of them would lead me to look into Legal Action. Let's say she didn't drown and he had nothing to do with her missing. Ginnette Bournigal, the senator of Puerto Plata telling the locals to be careful on what they say and that SK should have known due to a red flag, LE naming someone then backtracking and MSM to posting all kinds of different stories, this is so irresponsible IMO. I usually want to hear from all of these parties but everyone seems to hold their own CYA and "this is what happened" story with nothing that can be confirmed. IMO. I have no clue who if anyone is responsible, I have yet to hear of any info to lead me in a direction.

I agree with this but I think what leads to speculation on the part of JR being more than a bystander is that he's been named as a person of interest by LE.
As many people have said, there's unlikely to ever be evidence enough to implicate him even if he did do something criminal.
It may be the case that there is more information the public is unaware of (video footage, testimony of other people, things JR said to her friends, etc.) that is making LE keep him named as such rather than "clearing his name" to the public.
Of course, he could be totally innocent.

 

[nightowl2728]

agreed.

Also, that may have been taken out of context during an interview. Just my own suspicion though. As in he said something like : we got knocked down by waves. I had to vomit and walked out. Question: did you get out of the water together? Answer: No, I ran out, vomited. Saw her walking in the gulf towards where she left her clothes. That got interpreted as he left her behind in water after they got knocked about. He may not have thought she needed saving at all as he saw her walking before passing out. Now people are saying he left her knocked down and out and did not try help.

IMOO etc etc

If they were aware of all of the "red flags" on the beach though (which according to some authorities were blatantly obvious) don't you think he would be a little concerned or cautious? They're on the beach drunk at 5am in the pitch dark... I wouldn't just "assume" someone is just dandy in the water by themselves...

 

[swanniee11]

I agree with this but I think what leads to speculation on the part of JR being more than a bystander is that he's been named as a person of interest by LE.
As many people have said, there's unlikely to ever be evidence enough to implicate him even if he did do something criminal.
It may be the case that there is more information the public is unaware of (video footage, testimony of other people, things JR said to her friends, etc.) that is making LE keep him named as such rather than "clearing his name" to the public.
Of course, he could be totally innocent.

I still think its irresponable to name him. They could say " we have interviewed the last person who saw her or was with her" He IS or ISN'T cooperating kind of thing. Does he have any history or legal issues, agressiveness that is on record? I haven't read anything so I'm actually asking this. I think putting his name out without any indication of evidence this early isn't right and could cause more damage to an actual case if one would come up. This is just MO

Edit to add: I may be handling this with kid gloves I don't know, I just was so shocked when I saw they named him it actually ticked me off, normally LE keeps as much info in house until they benefit from sharing.

 

[abanddb123]

He was drunk but do we really know how drunk she is/was? We have no footage of her stumbling around, I don't think. Are we hearing of what friends are saying and other witnesses of how intoxicated? Just curious. All this is just mo, but accidents happen of course, but glad they are looking into everything.

 

[Whiteorchids]

I don't mean to discredit this statement BUT haven't 5 (potentially 6 now) people drowned within the last 3 months? Is this really a safe island?

Were all of them recovered?

 

[TDoc72]

Family of last person to see missing Pitt student Sudiksha Konanki says he ‘wouldn’t hurt a fly’

Family of last person to see missing Pitt student Sudiksha Konanki says he ‘wouldn’t hurt a fly’

Joshua Steven Riibe, 24, has been identified as the man seen hugging and walking hand-in-hand with the 20-year-old student just hours before she vanished in the Dominican Republic.

nypost.com

This means nothing to me. Rare is a family that comes out and says, “Yup, he’s a big ol murderer!”.

Were all of them recovered?

I was wondering the same. I really hope Sudiksha can recovered if that’s what happened. Her family might not get all the answers they deserve, but she deserves to be laid to rest.

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