Worldwide Police Alert Requested For Missing PA College Student

PITTSBURGH, PA — Authorities in the hometown of a University of Pittsburgh student who went missing in the Dominican Republic last week are asking for a worldwide police alert to be issued in the ongoing search for her.

The Loudon County Sheriff's Office in Virginia said on Monday night that it has filed for a Yellow Notice in the case of Sudiksha Konanki. The notice is the worldwide alert; it is issued by INTERPOL.

"The ongoing investigation includes wide-ranging search efforts, along with a review of surveillance video and telephone records," a release from the sheriff's office stated. "Interviews are also continuing with anyone who may have seen or been with Konanki before she went missing."

Konanki, 20, of Ashburn, Virginia and a citizen of India, has not been seen since last Thursday. She was one of six Pitt students on a spring break trip to Punta Cana. Authorities over the weekend said they were investigating that possibility that she drowned.

CNN reported on Monday that around 5:55 a.m. Thursday, surveillance cameras captured five women and one man leaving a Punta Cana beach. Konanki stayed behind with a young man. Video shows the man leaving the beach area at 9:55 a.m. with no sign of Konanki.

The record of complaint sought by the missing student's loved ones said she left behind personal items like her phone and wallet.

ABC News reported on Monday that Konanki's clothes were discovered on a portable beach bed near the beach where she went missing. Police have found no evidence of violence.

According to ABC, the man who was with Konanki told police that he and Konanki went swimming and got caught by a big wave. The man reportedly told police that when he got back to the beach he threw up and went to sleep on a beach bed. When he woke up, Konanki was nowhere to be seen.

The sheriff's office noted in the release that there has been considerable public speculation about what might have happened to Konanki and who might be involved.

"We caution anyone from drawing any unsubstantiated conclusions and are committed to ensuring that a thorough investigation is conducted before any conclusions are reached," the release stated. "The LCSO is hopeful for the safe return of Sudiksha Konanki, and we are committed to supporting this investigation and her family in every way possible."