More details about Sudiksha Konanki's disappearance are coming to light.
As authorities continue to search for the University of Pittsburgh student who went missing March 5 during a spring break trip in the Dominican Republic, a key witness shared his encounter with her on the beach.
The man—who is not considered a suspect by the Dominican Republic authorities—said that he and his friend met Konanki and her friends after coming back to the Riu República Resort from a party. (Virginia's Loudon County Sheriff's Office—where her family lives—has no jurisdiction over the case but has sent detectives to Punta Cana to assist on the U.S. side. The Loudon County authorities have also identified the unnamed man as a person of interest.)
Loudoun County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Thomas Julia told NBC News that a person of interest "is not the same thing as a suspect as this is not a criminal matter. It is still a missing person case."
"We all went to the bar," the witness told the Dominican Republic investigators in a March 12 interview obtained by NBC News. "We had drinks, ordered some shots, and someone suggested we go to the beach."
The witness shared in the interview that after removing his belongings and putting them on a chair, he and Konanki went into "waist-deep water" where they were "talking and kissing a little."
He said that "a big wave" came and swept them into the current. He noted, "As soon as we were able to surface, we tried to call for help, but there was no one there." (A Riu spokesperson told People in an email March 11 that red flags were placed on the beach before the incident as a warning of "strong current and high waves.”)
As a certified lifeguard, the witness told authorities that he "grabbed" Konanki and "held her" under his arm as he tried to swim back to shore. He said he "kept trying to get her to breathe" as he pulled them back to the beach but struggled to catch his breath simultaneously.
"I swallowed a lot of water," he shared. "I could have lost consciousness several times. When I finally reached the ground on the beach, I pulled her in front of me. She went to gather her belongings since the sea had moved us."
"She wasn't out of the water, as it was up to our knees," he continued. "She was walking at an angle in the water. The last time I saw her, I asked if she was OK. I didn't hear her answer because I started vomiting all the seawater I'd swallowed."
The witness explained that after, he looked around and "didn't see anyone" on the beach, so he thought she grabbed her belongings and left.
"I felt really bad and tired," he recalled. "I laid down on a beach chair and fell asleep because I couldn't go far. Then I woke up because of the sun and mosquito bites. I went to my friend's room to get my phone, and then I went to my room to sleep."
He said that his friend asked him if he knew where Konanki was the next day, to which he replied, "I thought she had gone to her room," but his friend told him she never returned.
While three Dominican officials close to the investigation told ABC News they believe Konanki died by drowning—no body has been recovered—Loudon County Sheriff Mike Chapman is determined to find a conclusive answer.
"I think it's way too premature to make an assumption like that," he said on NewsNation's Banfield March 10. "There has been no sighting of her in any capacity here. So, it's very important that we go through all this like we do some detailed investigation. We are working closely with Dominican authorities."
Read on for more about Konanki's disappearance.
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Where Did Sudiksha Konanki Travel to for Spring Break?
Sudiksha Konanki, a junior in biology at the University of Pittsburgh, traveled to the Dominican Republic on March 3 during spring break.
Who Did Sudiksha Konanki Travel With?
The 20-year-old headed to the Dominican Republic with five friends to celebrate the University of Pittsburgh's spring break.
Where Was Sudiksha Konanki Staying?
Konanki had been staying at the Hotel Riu Palace Punta Cana, an all-inclusive resort.
Following her disappearance, the hotel told NBC News, "We have been working closely with the local authorities, including the police and the navy, to conduct a thorough search. We would like to express our deepest sympathy to the family and friends during this incredibly difficult time … we are fully committed to doing everything in our power to assist in this situation."
A hotel spokesperson shared with the outlet that prior to the incident, red flags, which indicated that "the sea had a strong current and very high waves," were flying on the beach to warn guests.
When Was Sudiksha Konanki Reported Missing?
Konanki was reported missing on March 6 after her friends returned from a beach walk without her. She is believed to have disappeared between the hours of 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. that morning.
When Did Search and Rescue Efforts Begin for Sudiksha Konanki?
Following her disappearance, local officials began an investigation. Local civil defense confirmed it had begun searches on land and by sea, while a spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office in Loudoun County in Virginia—where Konanki was from—told NBC News their investigations included obtaining video, going through cellphone evidence and talking to people who were with Konanki.
What Do Officials Believe May Have Happened to Sudiksha Konanki?
Although a body has not been recovered, three Dominican Republic officials—who are leading the investigation—told ABC News on March 9 that they believe Konanki died by drowning.
However, Loudoun County Public Information Officer Thomas Julia told NBC News that they have "an obligation to look at all possibilities, interview all parties and look at all phones that may provide info of value and are doing so."
What Have Key Figures Told Police About Sudiksha Konanki’s Night on the Beach?
Joshua Riibe, a key witness in the search for Konanki, shared their encounter on the beach with Dominican authorities, alleging that while at the beach with a friend and Konanki's party of six, he and Konanki were swept into a current while kissing and talking in "waist-deep water."
"When I finally reached the ground on the beach, I pulled her in front of me," Riibe told authorities, according to a transcript viewed by E! News. "She went to gather her belongings since the sea had moved us. She wasn't out of the water, as it was up to our knees."
"She was walking at an angle in the water," he continued. "The last time I saw her, I asked if she was OK. I didn't hear her answer because I started vomiting all the seawater I'd swallowed."
The St. Cloud State University student said he fell asleep on a nearby beach chair and believed she returned to her room. "My friend asked me if I knew where the girl was," he said. "I told him I thought she had gone to her room, and he told me she never returned."
What Has Sudiksha Konanki’s Family Said About the Case?
Following Konanki's disappearance, her father Subbarayudu Konanki told CNN his daughter had been traveling before beginning pre-med studies.
"My daughter is a very nice girl," he said. "She's ambitious. She wanted to pursue a career in medicine."
However, more than 10 days after her disappearance, her loved ones asked Dominican Republic authorities to declare her dead, a police spokesperson Diego Pesqueira told NBC News March 17, sending a letter requesting the declaration of death.