PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – A dream vacation has turned into a distressing ordeal as authorities intensify their search for a missing University of Pittsburgh student who vanished from a popular Dominican Republic beach. Twenty-year-old Soda Konanki disappeared last Thursday, prompting concerns about whether her vanishing act was due to foul play or a tragic accident.
Konanki was enjoying a spring break trip with five friends at the Riu Palace Bavaro resort. CCTV footage captured her last known moments on the beach in Punta Cana. Investigators are now meticulously reviewing the footage to reconstruct the events leading to her mysterious disappearance.
Reports indicate that Konanki was last seen with her friends at a local bar before heading to the beach around 4 a.m. Her friends returned to the hotel around 5:55 a.m., but Konanki remained behind with a man who is not considered a suspect. According to the man’s account, they went into the water and were caught in a wave.
Authorities are probing the man’s story, questioning his presence with Konanki on the beach, their interactions, and why he did not search for her if she failed to emerge from the water. Konanki’s belongings were discovered on a beach chair, with no signs of a struggle.
Police suspect that both Konanki and the man were intoxicated. The man told authorities he fell asleep on a lounge chair after vomiting, later seen on security footage returning to the resort before 9 a.m. A family friend stated that the man has been cooperative, demonstrating to them what transpired that night.
With spring break in full swing, Punta Cana is bustling with students seeking sun-soaked getaways. Konanki, a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, was looking forward to attending medical school, according to family friends. Her father, Sabaru Konanki, shared that he spoke to his daughter just hours before she disappeared, noting that she was in high spirits and excited about her vacation.
The Riu Palace Bavaro stated they are collaborating with local authorities, including the police and navy, to conduct a thorough search operation. The resort emphasized the safety and well-being of their guests as their top priority.
Meanwhile, Konanki’s friends remain in the Dominican Republic, holding onto hope for her safe return as the picturesque beaches become the center of a major search effort.