Sudiksha Konanki was last seen at the beach, near her hotel, with two American men around 4:15 a.m. on March 6.
LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — The case of a missing 20-year-old college student from Loudoun County is now being investigated as an accident, according to the president of the Dominican Republic, the country she disappeared from.
Officials said Sudiksha Konanki was on spring break with five friends in Punta Cana when she disappeared. Konanki was last seen at the beach, near her hotel, with two American men around 4:15 a.m. on March 6. Her friends returned to the hotel while Konanki and one of the men stayed behind.
On Tuesday, Dominican officials announced it had a forensics team reviewing surveillance footage and they’re re-interviewing witnesses, hotel staff and the man she was last seen with before she disappeared.
Peter Greenberg, a CBS travel expert, told WUSA9 it’s important to always stay with a trusted friend when traveling abroad and avoid going out after dark.
“If you’re in a place you’ve never been to before, what are you doing walking at 4:15 in the morning,” Greenberg questioned. “Why are you even there?”
Greenberg encouraged travelers to always check travel advisories, share your location with trusted family members and always be aware of your surroundings.
“Keep in mind, for most travelers the biggest problem is street crime and pick pocketers,” he said. “When dealing with missing case or possible homicides, they are few and far between, but nothing takes precedent over common sense.”
A spokesperson for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s office said the sheriff continues to work closely with the FBI and authorities in the Dominican Republic on the case.
Anyone that has any information on Konanki is asked to contact the Loudoun County Sherriff’s Office.