Protection and Prayer Guide for Spring Breakers
As thousands of college students pause their studies for spring break, many are left with a feeling of anxiety over their holiday plans as tragedies in the lives of fellow spring breakers continue. News of a missing student who traveled to the Dominican Republic for spring vacation has gripped headlines since the beginning of March, setting off alarm bells for students and parents alike.
Sudiksha Konanki
Concern for University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki continues to deepen as her whereabouts remain a mystery.
Konanki traveled to the Dominican Republic on Mar. 3 with a group of five friends and had been staying at the Hotel Riu Republica in Punta Cana. In the early morning hours of Mar. 6, Konanki and her friends went to the hotel's beach along with two males. Konanki and one of the men in the group, identified as Joshua Riibe, a 22-year-old college student from Iowa, decided to go for a swim.
Riibe cooperated with authorities and gave his version of events. According to the young man, he and Konanki went in the water and were talking and kissing until a wave swept them out to sea. Riibe stated that he grabbed Konanki and swam with her until the water was knee-deep.
It is believed that Konanki accidentally drowned at sea.
Photo Credit: ©YouTube screenshot/CBS Pittsburgh
Konanki's parents, who initially asked for investigations to be broadened, have requested that authorities in the Dominican Republic declare their daughter legally dead, as they have now come to believe she drowned.
"Both sides of the authorities have shown us how high the ocean waves were at the time of the incident, and both sides of the authorities have clarified the person of interest was not a suspect from the beginning," Subbarayudu Konanki, the young woman's father, said in a statement to the New York Post.
"It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we are coming to terms with the fact our daughter has drowned," Konanki said. "This is incredibly difficult for us to process."
Konanki's disappearance is a tragic example of young women who go missing every year in the United States and abroad.
Brittanee Drexel
In 2009, Brittanee Drexel, 17, disappeared from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, during a walk while on spring break. Thirteen years later, in 2022, Raymond Moody was charged with killing her after the girl's remains were discovered in Georgetown County, South Carolina.
Moody and his girlfriend, Angel Cooper Vause, lured Drexel to their vehicle with a promise to drive her to her hotel. Vause proceeded to take Drexel's phone and leave her alone with Moody at a campsite, where the man raped and killed her. Moody pleaded guilty to raping, kidnapping, and murdering Drexel and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Vause was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Photo Credit: ©Roman Lopez/Unsplash
Travel Warning for Mexico
Additionally, former Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Michael Brown, in February, warned spring breakers of traveling to Mexico for their vacations, as reported by Fox News Digital.
"If you leave the resort, you're definitely at high risk, especially if you're an American female," Brown stated. "You're at risk of kidnapping [or] being sold into the sex trade…It happened to tens of thousands of girls over the last four years…Anywhere in Mexico outside of the resort is highly dangerous."
"Even in the resorts, the cartels have people scouting out," Brown continued. "Oh, here's a rich couple, let's kidnap them, or here are some attractive girls by themselves… Let's grab them on a Saturday night. You cannot underestimate that the cartels have scouts out; they have people out there watching to see what's going on."
Advice for Spring Breakers and the Resorts They Choose to Stay In
Make sure the resort you plan to stay in is known for safety and security.
Hotels and resorts should make security a top priority in their establishments.
Sufficient lighting both inside hotel hallways and lobbies and outside at the beach should always be maintained. Additionally, security cameras should be routinely checked for issues and be in a continuously functional state.
Make a plan with your group regarding what the end-of-night plans will look like, and make a pact to stick together.
Beth Holloway, whose daughter, Natalie Holloway, was murdered while on spring break in Aruba, offered some advice to springbreakers in light of the Konanki case.
"I have created the full-circle safety plan for travelers and citizens of all ages to remind them to spend as much time planning the end of their outing as they do planning where to go, what to wear, and who they are going with," Holloway stated. "By planning the end of the outing, this brings everything full circle. They can decide where and what time to meet, how to leave together, and make a conscious and deliberate plan to stay safe."
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Virojt Changyencham
Country Checklist and Law Enforcement
Check the U.S. Department of State's travel advisory pages for pertinent information on the country to which you plan on traveling. Useful tips and warnings can be found there.
Usage of specialized polygraph testing may be useful in solving criminal cases, particularly last known associates of the deceased or missing. If you find yourself in the tragic situation of not knowing where your loved one is, perhaps ask for a polygraph test to be administered to the last known person to be in contact with your loved one. According to the FBI, specially designed tests, known as the Concealed Information Test, a more unique polygraph test, can be a beneficial tool in solving various cases.
Scripture and Prayer for Travel Planning
- Psalm 121:7-8 -- "The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."
- Proverbs 3:5-6 -- "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
- Psalm 32:8 -- "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you."
Let Us Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please help me to be wise in planning my vacation and all of my outings and guide me in all that I do. Please help me to be alert to my surroundings. I pray that you give me wisdom as I make decisions throughout my trip.
Thank you, Father, for who You are and for all You have done in my life.
In Jesus' precious name,
Amen.
Scripture and Prayer for a Loved One
- Luke 4:10 -- "For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you.'"
- Deuteronomy 31:8 -- "And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."
- Isaiah 30:21 -- "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'"
Let Us Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray for my loved one as they travel. I ask that You would send Your angels out to be with them and guard their path.
Dear Lord, I pray that You would go before them, quite literally ahead of them, and set their ways inside a protective seal.
Please put a hedge of protection around them as only You can.
Dear God in Heaven, I love You with all my heart and soul.
In Jesus' name, I pray,
Amen.
Scripture and Prayer for Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones
- Psalm 34:18 -- "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
- Matthew 5:4 -- "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
- John 14:27 -- "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid."
Let Us Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray for all of the families who have lost a loved one. I know that You are close to the brokenhearted, dear Lord, and I pray that You fill those who are grieving the tragic loss of their beloved with a sense of Your comforting presence.
Father God, thank You for holding each of the sorrowing families in Your precious hands.
I love You, dear Lord.
In Jesus' mighty name, I pray,
Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Artem Kovalev
Vicky has written news articles on topics including human trafficking, Supreme Court rulings, politics, Christian persecution, the economy, social issues, and much more. She loves to learn and earned her bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from DePaul University. When she’s not tackling the current news cycle or interviewing someone for a story, you can probably find her writing poetry, taking pictures, or spending time with her husband. Vicky loves music, concerts, and all things Paris. You can find more of Vicky’s articles, scholarly papers, and even some of her poetic reflections at https://vlarias7.journoportfolio.com/
Originally published March 19, 2025.
