Spring break travelers urged to take certain precautions amid search for missing American college student
FIRST ON FOX — Former U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Robin Bernstein, who served between 2018 and 2021, has a warning for spring breakers in light of the disappearance of American college student Sudiksha Konanki from Punta Cana on March 6.
Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh junior from Loudoun County, Virginia, was last seen walking on a beach outside the five-star RIU Republica Resort, where she was staying with five female friends, in the early morning hours of March 6. She has yet to be located.
"My feeling is that the Dominican Republic is still a safe place to be, and unfortunately, people, when they go on spring break or if they go on vacation, they do things that they normally wouldn't do at home," Berstein told Fox News Digital. "Sometimes they don't make the best decisions. We have always told people to go out in groups, stay in groups, kind of have a wingman."
She also said she "would not advise anybody to walk alone on a beach anywhere, actually, whether it be Miami Beach, Chicago, Mexico."
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Bernstein believes Dominican Republic law enforcement officials are "great" and will work well with the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, which are also involved in the search for Konanki, according to the Dominican Republic prosecutor's office.
"I think it's just unfortunate that no one notified anyone until it was … much later in the day, that she was missing," Bernstein said.
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Konanki went to a hotel bar with her friends just before she disappeared, presumably until the early morning hours of March 6. Surveillance cameras captured video of the college student walking with a young man, who had his arms wrapped around her shoulders, after 4 a.m. on March 6.
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"The last recorded image of her was at 04:17 AM, when she was seen leaving a hotel bar in a group heading towards the beach. RIU staff acted appropriately upon being notified of the disappearance, fulfilling their duty to inform the authorities, with whom, as expected, cooperation has been absolute," RIU Resorts & Hotels said in a statement.
Konanki was seen for the last time around 4:50 a.m. walking on the beach outside the RIU Republica, but her friends apparently did not report her missing until about 12 hours later at 4 p.m. on March 6.
"Obviously, the sooner that you can let somebody know and the police and the embassy's involved, the better it is for the missing person," Bernstein said. "… I'm glad to hear that the Loudon County Sheriff has also become involved because I think the more minds involved on something like this, speed is really important. The longer it goes, the colder the case becomes."
Bernstein extended her "deepest condolences to the family that is experiencing such a tragedy."
"What was supposed to be a fun vacation has really turned into a parent's worst nightmare. I have three daughters myself, so … my heart kind of stops every time I turn on the TV," she said. "I just hope that she'll be found."
Authorities in the Dominican Republic have said there is no suspect and this is a missing-person case, not a criminal case.
The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is not the lead agency but said it is working with the FBI and was sending detectives to the Dominican Republic.
Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the LCSO at 703-777-1021. To remain anonymous, call the Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919.