Before American college students disappeared In the Dominican Republic, She and the last person she had last seen on March 6 were drinking and then decided to swim in rough surfing, which raised questions about responsibility, the possible responsibilities that their residences might face.
Early in the morning of March 6, Sudiksha Konanki and her friends walked from the hotel bar to the beach outside Riu Republica in Punta Cana, where she lives with five female friends University of Pittsburgh.
The 20-year-old apparently swam with a 22-year-old man, Joshua Riibe, who was identified as a witness to the missing person. Riibe apparently told Dominican Republic authorities that they swam and were hit by a big wave, the last time he saw her.
Chris Swecker, former assistant director of the FBI’s criminal investigation, told Fox News, “I’ve ended up in the investigation by Natalee Holloway. “But in this case, I think based on everything I’ve read, it’s drowning.” …I don’t think it’s a weird assumption, based on the facts, they’re both drunk. ”
Sudiksha Konanki, 20, has been missing in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic since March 6. (Fox News Digital Handout/San Diego Baze)
Riibe told police he had been drinking vodka as 7UP and tequila, adding that the women he bought with him were drinking from the “pink tequila shot” they drank.
On the beach, he and Konanki entered the water while her two female friends sat on the shore. Ribe said when the “big wave” hit them, Ribe and Concarney were talking. There was a red warning on the beach at the time that people warned people not to swim in rough surfing.
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Four tourists drowned near Punta Cana in January when the red flag warned of strong tides and oceans.
Local authorities searched on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at Sudiksha Konanki, a missing student in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (Santiago Baez for Fox News figures)
“When it comes to the ocean…if you don’t recover quickly, the marine life will take care of it,” Swick said. “And we haven’t seen the shower gel yet.”
Swecker, who is also a lawyer, added that he could “certainly see the resort’s liability issue”, which is related to Konanki’s disappearance.
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“Based on the industry standards of such a resort, there are enough cameras, are there… people outside the hotel due to power outages. Should there be safety on the beach?” he asked.
Sudiksha Konanki in Facebook selfie photo. The 20-year-old Pittsburgh junior has disappeared since March 6. (Sudiksha Konanki/Facebook)
Two hours before Konanki disappeared, Riu Republica resolved nearly 25 hours of power outage, affecting about 30% of resorts, leaving some people in the room without light, water, Wi-Fi or electricity to charge phones or other electronics.
RIU Resorts & Hotels previously told Fox News in a statement in a statement in a statement.
The hotel parent company added that the efforts of RIU Republica employees “are a model in terms of dedication, commitment and professionalism, addressing serious technical failures in a matter of hours and mitigating the impact of this time.”
Investigators have expanded the search area as American college student Sudiksha Konanki remains missing. (Fox News Graphics)
Dominican Republic attorney Luis Vilchez does not believe the resort will be liable unless the guest proves that “the hotel or its employees act recklessly.”
“If guests act recklessly, in principle, the hotel will not assume any responsibility.”
“Again, with regard to beach swimming conditions, it is necessary to prove that the hotel has failed to provide enough signs to inform guests of the proper use of the beach,” Vilchez told Fox News Digital Digital.
“If guests act recklessly, in principle, the hotel will not assume any responsibility – for example, if the guest swims for a designated time without a lifeguard on duty, despite obvious danger signs such as red flags such as red flags indicating bad weather.”
Military personnel searched for Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic on March 10. （AP/Francesco Spotorno）
He continued: “In this particular case, when two adults failed to follow the safety measures set out by the hotel to prevent accidents, I did not see the requirements for the resort. That is, it is necessary to prove that the hotel is negligent in directing, communicating or implementing safety measures.”
Swick said that if “insufficient safety,” “insufficient lighting on the beach,” or if the beach is not closed or secured during the red range warning, it is possible for Konanki’s family to file negligence for negligence.
Fox News Digital and Riu Republica reached out to comment.
Konanki, who was on surveillance footage from Riu Republica to the beach at around 4:15 a.m. on March 6, included five women and two men.
Local authorities participated in the search for student Sudiksha Konanki on March 11, 2025. (Santiago Baez for Fox News figures)
The hotel surveillance video then showed a group of six people, including five women and a man, returning from the beach at about 5:55 a.m.
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At around 9 a.m. on March 6, a young man who had met Konanki before was seen in the surveillance video.
Authorities ask anyone with information to contact the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office at 703-777-1021. To remain anonymous, call Loudoun Crime Resolutioner at 703-777-1919.
Fox News’ Michael Ruiz and Ashley Papa contributed to the report.
