A 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student, Sudiksha Konanki, who disappeared from the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, likely did not drown, according to a private investigator with experience in similar cases.

A legal permanent US resident originally from India, Konanki, was last seen entering the beach early Thursday morning while with a friend, who is now under investigation.

TJ Ward, the investigator known for his work on the Natalee Holloway case, expressed doubts about the drowning theory. “I believe that someone knows something about her whereabouts,” he stated.

Reports from ABC News suggested she may have drowned, but Ward pointed out that if she had gone into the water, her body would likely have washed ashore, given the tidal conditions.

Dominican authorities are investigating the friend accompanying Konanki and are corroborating claims from a young man who was also present that night. Ward noted that authorities have conducted searches by land, air, and sea, and it would be unusual for a body to remain undiscovered unless it was taken far offshore.

Konanki’s family shared concerns about the drowning narrative. Her father, Subbarayudu Konanki, mentioned that his daughter’s phone and wallet were left with her friends, which he described as “unusual.” He has urged authorities to consider other possibilities, such as kidnapping or foul play, in their investigation.

Konanki was on spring break with five female classmates and was last seen on surveillance footage around 4:15am on March 6. Her case bears similarities to Holloway’s, as both women disappeared from Caribbean resorts under comparable circumstances.

Ward warned of the dangers young travellers may face in foreign countries, especially at night. He emphasised the need for vigilance and caution, noting that incidents of assault and other crimes are prevalent in the Dominican Republic.

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Authorities have questioned multiple witnesses, including Konanki’s friends and the unnamed young man.

Konanki is approximately 5 feet, 3 inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a brown bikini and accessories.

A spokesperson for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office remarked that suggestions of drowning may stem from her last known location but indicated there is no evidence to support that conclusion.