Prior to the lack of an American college scholar within the Dominican Republic, she and the final people she was seen with on March 6 had truly been consuming alcohol prior to selecting to swim in harsh browse, motivating inquiries concerning obligation that the lodge the place they had been remaining can probably encounter.
In the morning hours of March 6, Sudiksha Konanki and her shut buddies strolled from a resort bar to the shoreline outdoors the RIU Republica in Punta Cana, the place she was sticking with 5 girls shut buddies from the University of Pittsburgh.
The 20-year-old evidently swam with a 22-year-old male referred to as Joshua Riibe, of Iowa, that has truly been decided as a witness in her loss. Riibe evidently knowledgeable Dominican Republic authorities that they went swimming and had been struck by an enormous wave, which is the final time he noticed her.
“I was over at the Natalee Holloway investigation way back when. And although there are some similarities here, there are some differences,” Chris Swecker, earlier FBI Criminal Investigative Division assistant supervisor, knowledgeableFox News Digital “But in this case, I think it’s plausible, based on everything that I’ve read, that it is a drowning.… I don’t think it’s an outlandish assumption here, based on the facts, that they were both pretty drunk.”
CRUCIAL WITNESS IN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT’S LOSS INFORMS COPS HOW THEY MET, WHAT TOOK PLACE ON COASTLINE
Sudiksha Konanki, 20, has truly been lacking out on from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, as a result of March 6. (Handout/ Santiago Baez for Fox News Digital)
Riibe knowledgeable cops he had truly been consuming alcohol vodka with 7Up and tequila pictures, together with that the crew of females he had truly been with acquired “pink tequila shots” that they consumed en masse.
On the shoreline, he and Konanki entered the water whereas 2 of her girls shut buddies remained onto land. Riibe and Konanki had been talking when a “big wave” struck them, Riibe claimed. There was a red-flag advising on the shoreline on the time, displaying a warning for people to not go swimming in harsh browse.
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT VANISHES IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: TIMELINE
In January, 4 vacationers sank close to Punta Cana, when a warning alerted of strong currents and harsh seas, in keeping with The Associated Press.
Local authorities search for lacking out on united state trainee Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Santiago Baez for Fox News Digital)
“When it comes to the ocean… if you don’t recover a body pretty quick, then the sea life is going to take care of it,” Swecker claimed. “And we haven’t seen a body wash up by now.”
Swecker, that’s likewise an lawyer, included that he can “definitely see a liability issue for the resort” about Konanki’s loss.
MISSING OUT ON AMERICAN IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: NO SUSPECTS AS LOOK FOR SUDIKSHA KONANKI GETS TO ONE WEEK
“Depending on industry standards for a resort like that, where there are enough cameras, whether… people were outside the hotel because of a power outage. Should there have been security on the beach?” he requested.
Sudiksha Konanki in a Facebook selfie image. The 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh junior has truly been lacking out on as a result of March 6. (Sudiksha Konanki/Facebook)
Just 2 hours earlier than Konanki’s loss, RIU Republica had truly solved an virtually 25-hour-long electrical energy interruption that affected concerning 30% of the lodge, leaving some people with out gentle, water, Wi-Fi, or electrical energy of their areas to invoice telephones or varied different digital gadgets.
“In response to publications linking the electrical failure experienced at the Riu Republica hotel with the tragic disappearance of guest Sudiksha Chowdary Konanki, RIU Hotels & Resorts wishes to firmly clarify that both events are completely unrelated,” RIU Resorts & & Hotels previously knowledgeable Fox News Digital in a declaration.
The resort mothers and pop agency included that the RIU Republica’s personnel’s initiatives “were exemplary in terms of dedication, commitment, and professionalism in resolving a severe technical failure within hours and mitigating the effects it had on services throughout that time.”
Investigators have truly broadened the search location as American college scholar Sudiksha Konanki stays absent. (Fox News Graphics )
Luis Vilchez, an lawyer within the Dominican Republic, doesn’t imagine the lodge will definitely be held accountable except the guests confirm that “the hotel or its employees acted recklessly.”
“If the guest acted recklessly, the hotel would, in principle, not be held liable.”
“Similarly, regarding beach swimming conditions, it would have to be demonstrated that the hotel failed to provide adequate signage to inform guests about the proper use of the beach,” Vilchez knowledgeable Fox News Digital.
“If the guest acted recklessly, the hotel would, in principle, not be held liable – for example, if the guest swam outside designated hours when no lifeguard was on duty and despite visible danger signs, such as red flags indicating bad weather.”
Military employees search for Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on March 10. ( AP/Francesco Spotorno)
He proceeded: “In this particular case, I do not see grounds for a claim against the resort when two adults failed to follow the safety measures established by the hotel to prevent accidents. That is, it would be necessary to prove that the hotel was negligent in indicating, communicating or enforcing the safety measures.”
Swecker claimed it will definitely be possible for Konanki’s family to take authorized motion in opposition to the lodge for neglect if there was “insufficient security,” “insufficient lighting on the beach” or for stopping working to close or defend the shoreline all through a red-flag warning.
Fox News Digital linked to RIU Republica for comment.
RESORT SCARY TALES ARISE AFTER AMERICAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOES MISSING OUT ON AS HOTEL FIRMLY INSISTS NO LINK
Konanki was final seen on monitoring video strolling from RIU Republica to the shoreline with 7 different people, consisting of 5 girls and a couple of males, round 4:15 a.m. on March 6. She was final seen on the shoreline round 4:50 a.m., in keeping with the Dominican Republic district lawyer’s office and the resort.
Local authorities participate within the search for lacking out on trainee Sudiksha Konanki, March 11, 2025. (Santiago Baez for Fox News Digital)
Hotel monitoring video after that reveals a crew of 6 people, consisting of 5 females and one male, going again to the resort from the shoreline round 5:55 a.m.
GO HERE TO OBTAIN THE INFORMATION APPLICATION
The boy previously seen with Konanki is seen on monitoring video going into the within of the resort round 9 a.m. on March 6.
Authorities are asking any individual with information to name the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office at 703-777-1021. To keep confidential, phone name Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919.
Fox News’ Michael Ruiz and Ashley Papa added to this document.
