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

[Vaderman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1901830769242488968

I was surprised to read the family is making these steps. Usually we see families clinging to hope long after the rest of us have accepted the grim reality.

I wonder if this family is privy to more info than has been released.

 

[Pharmasgirl]

Is that true though?
How does anyone know he almost drowned?
How is it known he was even in the water?

Have thought the same thing… we don’t know what’s true. Maybe today’s hearing will provide some clarity

 

[Hexe]

If JR really has a sort of memory loss/brain damage as a result of alcohol misuse, then this might explain why his story is always different/inconsistent. Though, it does not give him a defense, but this at least understandable.
IMHO

All the stories he provided have a logical chain of events. That's not how a memory loss works

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Authorities have said they believe Konanki died by drowning in the early hours of March 6, officials told ABC News

Parents of Pitt student who went missing while on spring break ask to have daughter declared dead

The family of Sudiksha Konanki, the University of Pittsburgh student who vanished while on spring break, has formally requested that the Dominican police declare their daughter deceased.

abc7news.com

 

[justme11]

Have thought the same thing… we don’t know what’s true. Maybe today’s hearing will provide some clarity

What time is the hearing?

 

[Pseudonymph]

If he puked all over the place and it wasn't washed away by the water, that's physical evidence that could be verified. As for shorts inside out (if that's true--it was mentioned above), that could be verified on camera as preexisting and he may have already been drunk when he put them on.

 

[Chimera]

The resort had put red flags out at the beach, indicating unsafe water conditions. And one Web Sleuth has posted that online records show the waves that night/wee hours of the morning were 5-6 feet. I'm not sure who or which post number, but fairly early in this thread.

It was not calm.

One expert who was looped into some article claimed that it was calm, but that person wasn't on the scene. I can't understand how they came to that conclusion when there are solid reports of the red flags and even - I believe - of some tourists confirming that they saw them.

Yes, I think that's the post you mentioned that I was referring to, thanks !

 

[Pharmasgirl]

What time is the hearing?

2 pm last I heard…

 

[Cyber sleuth]

If he puked all over the place and it wasn't washed away by the water, that's physical evidence that could be verified. As for shorts inside out (if that's true--it was mentioned above), that could be verified on camera as preexisting and he may have already been drunk when he put them on.

Video showing him entering the bar and leaving with SK towards the beach show his shorts on properly.
I do believe her parents have requested a death declaration and are willing to believe Josh’s story because of shame. If the continued investigate reveals that events of the evening progressed beyond kissing ( willfully on her part or otherwise) it may cause deep shame to her family. The may be cultural beliefs at play here.
For whatever reason her parents believe she is dead and are wanting to go along with a drowning story, despite no eye witnesses to the event or corroborating evidence or her remains to verify.
JMO

 

[Curiousobserver]

For me this is also a drowning until proven otherwise. I have seen wave conditions like this and overestimated my abilities while sober, I have also been in the same condition as this young man. I can't imagine what would happen if I were both drunk and overconfident in the water. Its a miracle I survived my youth to be honest.

It seems unreasonable that a young man that was so obviously inebriated could also be so stealthy and cunning that he evaded all the security cameras and hid her body somewhere on land, away from that beach. And that afterward he would simply plop himself back down in a chair and go to sleep?

At the same time it is also very likely the beach was not empty at that time and there would be at least some witnesses to a struggle or perhaps screaming from an attack.

Combine the later with the fact that drownings like this have occurred on this same beach with completely sober individuals during the day....

I think this young man is in serious trouble, the authorities are going to be looking to blame something other than the rough seas and hedonistic atmosphere they created so families keep coming and spending their money.

 

[CityKid]

All the stories he provided have a logical chain of events. That's not how a memory loss works

I agree. I think he now knows what a week of binge-drinking in the hot sun can do. MOO

 

[Emi]

2 pm last I heard…

what time zone is DR

 

[justme11]

what time zone is DR

Eastern

 

[Diddian]

Eastern

It's Atlantic. One hour difference when both time zones are on Standard Time. (Dominican Republic does not do Daylight Savings Time so is currently same time as Eastern Daylight Time).

Time Zone & Clock Changes in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Historic, present and future dates for daylight saving time and clock changes. Time changes between years 2020 and 2029 in Dominican Republic – Punta Cana are shown here.

www.timeanddate.com

Edited.

 

[Warwick7]

Authorities have said they believe Konanki died by drowning in the early hours of March 6, officials told ABC News

Parents of Pitt student who went missing while on spring break ask to have daughter declared dead

The family of Sudiksha Konanki, the University of Pittsburgh student who vanished while on spring break, has formally requested that the Dominican police declare their daughter deceased.

abc7news.com

Died by drowning....

"Authorities have said they believe Konanki died by drowning in the early hours of March 6, officials told ABC News."

"Konanki's parents say they trust the investigation and acknowledge that there is no evidence of foul play."

 

[swanniee11]

My heart breaks for her family. Prayers for them during such a difficult time.

 

[Cryptic]

You couldn’t pay me to go to the Dominican Republic after this.
Places where authorities seize your passport and don’t return it in a timely manner (as in that same day) without just cause are both dangerous and corrupt.
Putting this young man under house arrest but not arrested without an iota of proof in his culpability for Sudiksha’s disappearance is abhorrent.

In fairness to the Dominicans, having different laws than say, the United States does not mean that their laws are inherently unfair.

Had they not taken quick and comprehensive action, complaints from other people would have been along the lines of:

Ohhh so corrupt Dominican police sit idle as wealthy (even if relatively so) American jets back to the USA. Yes, he was the last person with a missing girl. Yes, he has a garbled story....

As for house arrest pending an investigation, presumably civilized Dutch law evidently allows house arrests lasting weeks pending an investigation for a serious crime.

As a side note, even the US allows for preemptive detention- though only for 72 hours or so- and its rarely done. US authorities seizing passports? A temporary placement on a "no fly" list regarding a suspect in Hawaii might amount to the same thing.

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1902007777339260982

 

[Knox]

Died by drowning....

"Authorities have said they believe Konanki died by drowning in the early hours of March 6, officials told ABC News."

"Konanki's parents say they trust the investigation and acknowledge that there is no evidence of foul play."

Wasn’t the LCSO in the DR recently and interviewed JR?

Perhaps the Sheriff met with her family after he returned and shared his opinion of what happened to her that night? Consequently they have accepted there was no foul play and wrote the letter.

Thank you to those who shared the cultural aspect, that makes sense.

 

[thebedbug]

As someone who has likely been similarly drunk on spring breaks in tropical party locations, memory isn't an all-or-nothing thing. There are times when you remember things your friends don't, times they remember things you don't, and times you don't remember things, until you're triggered/reminded and it all comes back in a flood of (usually) embarrassment. And, no doubt, there are some things that are lost to everyone's memory.

Being blackout drunk certainly exists, but staggering around or puking is not the same thing.