Venmo account provides look into missing American student’s last known stops
A University of Pittsburgh student, Sudiksha Konanki, went missing on the beautiful beaches of Punta Cana, leaving authorities to search for clues on her social media accounts to piece together her final moments before disappearing. Konanki, a 20-year-old Virginia resident, was last seen walking along the beach outside the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana in the early hours of March 6.
One potential clue that investigators are looking into is a Venmo transaction made by Konanki on March 5 to a friend, titled “coco bongo.” This suggests that she may have visited the popular nightclub chain, Coco Bongo, in the days leading up to her disappearance. The nightclub is known as the hottest nightlife spot in the Dominican Republic, offering nightly stage shows and an open bar for a cover charge starting at $90.
Coco Bongo partners with third-party promoter services to offer all-inclusive hotel deals to college students visiting for spring break. This includes accommodations at various price points, transportation, and access to events like Coco Bongo. While it is unclear if Konanki actually visited the club, it is a popular attraction for spring breakers and tourists in the area.
Footage obtained of Coco Bongo shows a lively nightclub featuring themed shows, light displays, and dance parties. Ticket prices start at $90, with the baseline price including access to the open bar. The club has drawn in tourists and spring breakers alike, with one TikTok user commenting, “I don’t remember getting back home.”
As the search for Konanki continues, authorities are still trying to determine what happened to the missing college student. Footage shows Konanki walking toward the resort’s beach with friends before she disappeared around 4:15 a.m. The investigation remains ongoing, with the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic, the Dominican Prosecutor’s Office, and the Dominican National Police conducting a joint investigation with assistance from the FBI.
The search for Konanki is now in its second week, with authorities treating it as a missing person case rather than a criminal case. The investigation continues as they work to uncover the truth behind her disappearance.
