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

[CityKid]

one thing that is bothering me as I read this over- they always tell you that if you get caught in a rip tide, do not directly fight it. swim parallel and try to go to shore outside the rip. so neither of them knew that? (given they were so drunk, that they might have known nothing when this was happening and were just panicking, but...)

Drunk and in the dark, knowing which way is parallel to the shore is harder than it sounds. You also don't know how long you need to swim parallel to get out of the current, all the while the current is pushing you deeper. I have long hair, and when I was caught in a rip current, every time I got my head from underwater, I'd have hair in my face obstructing my view. It was broad daylight and I couldn't see a thing. I have never swam in open water without braiding or tying back my hair since then. In all the images of SK I've seen, she has long, loose hair.

 

[pukasonqo2]

Interesting, because I see something different there. IMO she is holding his waist to stabilise him, because he, big, unsteady dude, is leaning on her with his weight, making her to lose her balance. And it is rather hard to tell if she is happy or not, because we can see her only from the back.

Anyway I found it suspicious that after near drowning and after fighting with waves, he, a strong, fit man, was so exhausted he blacked out while she was casually strolling around the beach like nothing happened.

Another issue I notice is the amount of details he provides in his statements. It is A LOT of details for a man that was first sloshed drunk and then exhausted to the point of blackout.

Fighting against the sea is exhausting, a friend and I almost drowned (got pulled out to sea) and what I remember the most is the exhaustion of trying to keep a float and get to shore, even now when thinking about it I remember the tiredness and how silent we both were

 

[TheTeach]

I am a naturally suspicious person. It's why I'm glad I'm not in law enforcement, and that I haven't had jury duty on some major criminal case. With that being said, we may never know if he is truly innocent or guilty of any crime. Yet, his life is forever changed. People will always think that something nefarious happened on that beach.

Thinking back to the Jay Slater media frenzy....bad reporting and SM conspiracy theories really caused the public to tear apart the friends in that group. I mean the "reporting" was crazy and I think that we are seeing some of that now. (Bad reporting)

 

[TheTeach]

Fighting against the sea is exhausting

Yes, i can imagine so. and no matter how big, strong, manly, everyone wants to keep describing him....he had been partying for who knows how many days, skipping sleep to do so, dehydrated, and if he had truly been in the water saving her, the adrenaline rush/crash all could have certainly left him passed out. He could have slowly been piecing information back together in the days following.... and could still be remembering things out of order

 

[Beekarina]

I'm also very suspicious by nature. With this one though, so far, we have two young people, both who were seen vomiting shortly before heading to the beach, so almost certainly both highly intoxicated. Both appear to be "good kids" based on everything we know about their character from family and friends.

So...it seems most likely to me they were both really drunk, went into the water as he said and then only he made it safely to shore. It IS strange for her body not to have turned up, but she could be stuck on a reef, sharks etc may have come into play...I really do not know.

There is also a small chance someone sinister was targeting the group, and as I said before both of them drank something tainted. But then we haven't heard anything about the others in the group being unusually ill, have we? Or anyone lurking around that night acting strange?

And yes, he could have gotten out into the water and gotten aggressive with her, but again, he was so drunk he was vomiting, and then passed out. (allegedly the last part.) If he was this impaired, I wonder how likely it is he would be attacking? (I know not impossible, just wondering how likely when you're stumbling around vomiting??)

It seems most likely to me they were both really messed up, he was the stronger swimmer (prior lifeguard--although the bar to be one at a pool isn't that high) , he has some gaps in his memory about exactly what happened due to being so impaired and that is why his attorneys have advised him not to answer some of the questions. ) Very easily they both could have drowned.

 

[Beekarina]

I also wonder what his motive would be to kill her? He's a young guy, on Spring Break, with friends. They had just met, why would he go hang out on the beach and then kill her? He would have known everyone knew they were together? Any young person would know clubs and things have cameras. You'd have to be really, really stupid to be on camera with someone, hanging out, go off together and then kill them. I'm sure there ARE people that stupid, but this doesn't make a lot of sense to me given what we know so far.

I've read he has/had a girlfriend at home in several news sources, but that seems a flimsy motive.

 

[TheTeach]

It seems most likely to me they were both really messed up, he was the stronger swimmer (prior lifeguard--although the bar to be one at a pool isn't that high) , he has some gaps in his memory about exactly what happened due to being so impaired and that is why his attorneys have advised him not to answer some of the questions. ) Very easily they both could have drowned.

Agree, while there are some things I find questionable, many things can still be explained away. Unless more pops up in the days that follow.

 

[Hexe]

Fighting against the sea is exhausting, a friend and I almost drowned (got pulled out to sea) and what I remember the most is the exhaustion of trying to keep a float and get to shore, even now when thinking about it I remember the tiredness and how silent we both were

Yes, it is exhausting, I don't deny that. What I find suspicious is that despite first intoxication and then exhaustion to the point of blackout he managed to remember a lot of details

 

[Hexe]

I also wonder what his motive would be to kill her? He's a young guy, on Spring Break, with friends. They had just met, why would he go hang out on the beach and then kill her? He would have known everyone knew they were together? Any young person would know clubs and things have cameras. You'd have to be really, really stupid to be on camera with someone, hanging out, go off together and then kill them. I'm sure there ARE people that stupid, but this doesn't make a lot of sense to me given what we know so far.

Being drunk does not make anyone wiser and more reasonable. Also, the men kill the women who refused them sex horrifyingly often.

 

[Kittybunny]

After pondering this confusing situation, this is what makes the most sense to me now. I think they were both too drunk to be in 5 to 6 foot waves. They were having fun until suddenly they weren't.

I think he probably did try to help her when they both got dragged out into deeper turbulence----but when he got into sudden trouble he had to focus on himself and he lost track of her. He is probably ashamed and embarrassed that she likely drowned under his watch. But I do think that is most likely what happened.

I don't think he was forcing himself on her , I think it was just a dangerous natural disaster.

The video shows him with his arm around her but she has her arm around his waist and she looks happy with that situation. I think they were both willingly enjoying each other's company and made a very bad choice to wade deeper into the water.

This is my conclusion as well. With really foggy, blackout memories, he may now have fully convinced himself that his more heroic version is what happened, both to protect himself and his image of himself.

As a hardcore party-er in my college days, none of the behaviors or events of this group of people strike me as odd, except possibly him not reporting her missing or asking someone for help just be sure she was ok.

 

[Pharmasgirl]

one thing that is bothering me as I read this over- they always tell you that if you get caught in a rip tide, do not directly fight it. swim parallel and try to go to shore outside the rip. so neither of them knew that? (given they were so drunk, that they might have known nothing when this was happening and were just panicking, but...)

Trying to wrap my head around in what situation I AM SO DRUNK, THAT I COULD CONCEIVABLY gather my thoughts and say LETS GO FOR A SWIM Anyone else

 

[truthfinder2019]

Tequila, a big wave and a missing student: What spring breaker told police

A key witness after the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki said they drank tequila shots, waded into the ocean and were swept out to sea.

www.nbcwashington.com

 

[nerosleuth]

Here are my thoughts concerning the statement that JR made about him sleeping at the beach after his blackout.

Were there any confirmation that anyone saw him passed out on the beach that morning?

If someone saw him passed out on the beach, did anyone check to see if he was OK?

Was he at the edge of the water or away from the water, and was he face down or face up when he was passed out?

What is the hotel's policy regarding someone on the beach that is drunk and passed out?

Do they let that person sleep it off or is emergency services contacted regarding an unconscious person on the beach?

I'm thinking that the hotel would be concerned about potential liability issues concerning a person that is passed out on the beach.

 

[Cyber sleuth]

Interesting, because I see something different there. IMO she is holding his waist to stabilise him, because he, big, unsteady dude, is leaning on her with his weight, making her to lose her balance. And it is rather hard to tell if she is happy or not, because we can see her only from the back.

Anyway I found it suspicious that after near drowning and after fighting with waves, he, a strong, fit man, was so exhausted he blacked out while she was casually strolling around the beach like nothing happened.

Another issue I notice is the amount of details he provides in his statements. It is A LOT of details for a man that was first sloshed drunk and then exhausted to the point of blackout.

I agree here. Especially when his version in a nutshell is “WE were kissing, WE were accosted by a wave, I saved us, SHE left ME while I was vomiting from MY valiant efforts”. Kind of like a side jab at her. IMO
Something happened on that beach and I do think it happened on the water but I don’t think he happened as he describes.
He was on vacation looking to cheat on his girlfriend. He had an impaired, isolated young lady that he wanted to cheat with. I think something didn’t go his way, or he got incredibly selfish and rough during their encounter. Intentionally or not, I believe he caused her death.
As a former lifeguard some of his statements about his rescue don’t make sense. A rescue swim does not match his description.
Also his sobriety levels in his story seem to change as it suits him.
The least sinister conclusion I can think of is a wave hit them and she grabbed him and bear hugged him. Unable to properly rescue swim this way he pushed her off and left her to drown. His immense guilt ( and ego) caused him to create this heroic story. The only issue I have with this is I don’t think she willingly would have gone out far enough out in the water that it was even dangerous to him a big, strong lifeguard with her being a 5’3”.
His walk back to the hotel at 9:55 am does not look like someone that saves someone earlier. There is guilt and exhaustion on his face. IMO

All to conclude; Where is she? I hope I am wrong about his involvement, but if her body were found it may answer some questions. Why hasn’t her body washed up if his story is truthful.
JMO

 

[Bigditch]

Trying to wrap my head around in what situation I AM SO DRUNK, THAT I COULD CONCEIVABLY gather my thoughts and say LETS GO FOR A SWIM Anyone else

Especially after throwing up (allegedly) that would send me to bed.

 

[CityKid]

Trying to wrap my head around in what situation I AM SO DRUNK, THAT I COULD CONCEIVABLY gather my thoughts and say LETS GO FOR A SWIM Anyone else

Never. However, substitute "let me get behind the wheel of a car" for "let's go for a swim" and think about how many people do that every day. Or in the case we're discussing, we literally saw two people leave a bar, puke in public, go back into the bar and keep chatting like it's no biggie. I have no idea what would be a bridge too far with their mindset at 5am. This case isn't about what any of as here as individuals would do.

 

[tarabull]

Never. However, substitute "let me get behind the wheel of a car" for "let's go for a swim" and think about how many people do that every day. Or in the case we're discussing, we literally saw two people leave a bar, puke in public, go back into the bar and keep chatting like it's no biggie. I have no idea what would be a bridge too far with their mindset at 5am. This case isn't about what any of as here as individuals would do.

Nor is it about what any of us here have done!

 

[KMouse]

Trying to wrap my head around in what situation I AM SO DRUNK, THAT I COULD CONCEIVABLY gather my thoughts and say LETS GO FOR A SWIM Anyone else

Are you saying that when somebody is drunk they wouldn't go swimming in the ocean? I've been very drunk and I have gone swimming in the ocean in my underwear with strangers I met at the beach bar. People do stupid things that are inconceivable, especially young people on vacation who have been drinking a lot.

 

[Pharmasgirl]

Are you saying that when somebody is drunk they wouldn't go swimming in the ocean? I've been very drunk and I have gone swimming in the ocean in my underwear with strangers I met at the beach bar. People do stupid things that are inconceivable, especially young people on vacation who have been drinking a lot.

I realize everyone is different at a young age and after having consumed enormous amounts of booze, BUT to mix the inebriated state with the OCEAN is an entirely new level

 

[Bigditch]

In my mind it is our collective experience on WS that make us unique. It is people's judgement of others assessments and interpretations of the facts that unfortunately get in the way of our pursuit of justice for the victim.