DANGER IN THE DOMINICAN
THE SEARCH FOR SUDIKSHA
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF MARCH 6, 2025,
AN AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT ON SPRING BREAK
WENT MISSING IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
SHE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN SINCE.
Sudiksha Konanki’s vanishing made international news and ignited a massive search operation.
A pre-med student from a conservative Indian background, SUDIKSHA’S story took a dramatic turn when her parents suddenly asked authorities to declare her dead, despite the absence of a body or any clear answers about how she disappeared.
The parents request brought the search to a halt.
Our Production seeks to bring justice to Sudiksha.
Could Sudiksha be alive…
Or is she just another of the over 500 women currently missing in the Dominican Republic?
“THERE IS
STRONG NEW EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST
THAT SHE IS ALIVE”
DETECTIVE JIM LAVERTY
The Search for Sudiksha explores how a group of smart young women could have their lives and their youthful idealism shattered.
It is an exploration into the cultural pressures of image and shame in the conservative Indian community.
Corporate greed and neglect are on display as the hotels ban release of vital footage and resources in order to protect their image.
Lawlessness that could stall a nation’s lucrative tourism industry provide the framework for a cover up that permeates the Dominican Republic.
WARNER HANSON HAS SECURED EXCLUSIVE,
NEVER RELEASED FOOTAGE, PHOTOGRAPHS, TEXT MESSAGES AND ANALYSIS
INCLUDING EXCLUSIVE
ACCESS TO THE KONANKI FAMILY, SUDIKSHA’S FRIENDS,
JOSHUA RIIBE AND FRIENDS
AND EYE WITNESSES THAT SAW HER ALIVE
Viewers follow along as the investigation takes place,
witnessing the case as it unfolds in real time.
WARNER HANSON
HAS IDENTIFIED & INTERVIEWED
NEW EYE WITNESSES
THAT SAW SUDIKSHA
LEAVE THE BEACH ALIVE
In a recent turn of fate,
THE KONANKI FAMILY
HAS DECLARED THAT THEY BELIEVE
SUDIKSHA DID NOT DROWN
EXCLUSIVELY REVEALED TO WARNER HANSON
THEY ARE COOPERATING EXCLUSIVELY WITH THE PRODUCTION.
THE SEARCH FOR SUDIKSHA
When Sudiksha’s parents asked for her to be declared DEAD the investigation came to an abrupt halt, The D.R. immediately declared her disappearance a drowning and all investigation ceased. With THE SEARCH FOR SUDIKSHA, the search for answers and for Sudiksha herself offer hope to a tragic story.
THE SEARCH FOR SUDIKSHA takes viewers inside the investigation in real time. Our Detectives delve into the investigation with urgency, putting their lives on the line to find out the truth about what happened to SUDIKSHA — in a desperate search of find her ALIVE.
Fueled by the knowledge that she can be saved — the investigation digs deep to find her whereabouts and to expose a nation’s corrupt cover-up.
It is a rare opportunity for viewers to be fully immersed in the story —
and to experience the methods of discovery and investigation
in an active missing persons case
The testimony and statements of Sudiksha’s family and friends help tell her story and shed light on this immensely talented woman’s life.
The hunt for truth and justice in this case holds the potential to save not only SUDIKSHA,
But to prevent the death and kidnapping of another young woman in the future.
The DANGER IN THE DOMINICAN team are the ONLY people actively SEARCHIING FOR SUDIKSHA
The production includes a team of private investigators in both the D.R. and the U.S., as well as a team of renowned forensics, behavior, tactical and extraction experts.
As the team delves deep into her whereabouts, the production follows their discoveries, revealing the investigative methods, expertise and techniques.
The search, the investigation, the resolve — is the STORY
Viewers are taken along on the investigative journey
to discover the fate of Sudiksha in REAL TIME
Undercover footage, stake-outs, disguises, interviews, investigative tactics and techniques are utilized.
Undercover agents, experts, analysts, psychics and other specialists help us unravel the mystery of Sudiksha, offering viewers the narrative of this missing persons case but also revealing the investigative expertise and techniques that can close a case.
THE INVESTIGATION HAS REVELED
NEW EYE WITNESSES + VIDEO FOOTAGE +
PHOTOS + ANALYSIS + INTERVIEWS
THE KONANKI FAMILY IS EXCLUSIVELY
COOPERATING WITH WARNER HANSON
“THERE IS
ABSOLUTELY
A POSSIBILITY THAT
SHE IS ALIVE”
DETECTIVE SALLY TIERNEY
“THERE IS VERY STRONG
NEW EVIDENCE INDICATING
THAT SHE DID NOT DROWN”
DETECTIVE JIM LAVERTY
MEET THE DETECTIVES
JIM LAVERTY
DETECTIVE (RETIRED)
LOUDON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
EXCLUSIVE ACCESS
KADIA SARAF
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
ON-SCREEN CONSULTANT
SALLY TIERNEY
PRIVATE DETECTIVE
EXCLUSIVE ACCESS
KADIA SARAF is an actor and forensics consultant whose work spans both scripted broadcast crime drama and real-world investigations. Kadia currently portrays a homicide detective on the hit series Dexter: Resurrection and has held starring roles in Law & Order-Special Victims Unit, Blue Bloods and other drama series.
Kadia has also spent more than a decade consulting with law enforcement and families on active missing-person cases, providing timeline analysis, behavioral insight, and investigative direction, including potential leads and areas of focus.
Kadia was brought onto the Sudiksha Konanki case on day one at the request of Detective Jim Laverty and has remained actively involved since the earliest stages. Kadia boards the Production as an Executive Producer and on-screen contributor, as this case has become deeply personal to her.
SALLY TIERNEY
PRIVATE DETECTIVE
EXCLUSIVE ACCESS
JIM LAVERTY
DETECTIVE,
LOUDON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, RETIRED
EXCLUSIVE ACCESS
SALLY TIERNEY was a trained ballerina, professional dancer, teacher, and dance studio owner for more than 2 decades, before turning her tenacity toward investigating unsolved crimes. Today, she is one of the most respected Private Detectives in the country, turning advocacy into action as she leads us in an aggressive investigation into Sudiksha’s disappearance.
Sally’s has assumed the role of Lead Investigator on this case, dedicating her own time to unraveling the mystery of Sudiksha’s disappearance. Her skills and investigative nature are on display as a master class in how to solve an international crime, working cooperatively the production team.
DETECTIVE JIM LAVERTY led the initial investigation into Sudiksha’s disappearance since the morning of her disappearance. Today, still haunted by her disappearance and the lack of justice, he has taken it upon himself to bring the case to a resolve. Utilizing new tactics and a fresh approach, he relentlessly takes on the system that ignored her case, determined to find Sudiksha’s fate. Jim’s experience as a head of DEA offices in Brazil and Columbia, as well as his years on the Chicago Police Department bring invaluable expertise and intuition to this case.
Laverty has exclusive, never before released information, evidence, first hand knowledge, testimony and contacts that casts a dark shadow on Sudiksha’s disappearance. Laverty has the trust of Sudiksha’s friends and family, as well as established contacts and ties in the Dominican Republic and international law enforcement.
On the ground in the Dominican Republic, Private Investigator “CJ” has infiltrated the highest ranks of government while integrating himself into local life to investigate Sudiksha’s disappearance. His work is secretive and highly dangerous, but his pursuit is relentless and determined. He is but one of many on our team, quietly maneuvering the dangers of the Dominican to find answers in Sudiksha’s disappearance.
The production is in communications with
SUDIKSHA’S FRIENDS & FAMILY,
as well as JOSHUA RIIBE and his friends
They are speaking out for the FIRST TIME
since her disappearance
EXCLUSIVELY TO WARNER HANSON
MEET OUR PRODUCTION TEAM
HEIDI HANSON
WARNER HANSON
AWARD-WINNING
NON-FICTION PRODUCER
KADIA SARAF
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
ON-SCREEN CONSULTANT
JIA RIZVI
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKER
WARNER HANSON is an award-winning production company dedicated to creating high quality work in film, television and digital media. Our mission is to utilize storytelling and the visual arts to create understanding and change on vital issues of our day. Warner Hanson’s production approach places our subjects at the centerpiece to every narrative, offering deeply personal and revealing storytelling.
KADIA SARAF’s work spans across documentary, drama and real world investigations. Her starring roles in hit crime dramas including Dexter: Resurrection and Law & Order-Special Victims Unit have shaped her creative approach to production and the true crime genre. Born in Switzerland and raised in both Israel and Switzerland, Kadia is multilingual and speaks English, Hebrew, German, Swiss-German, Spanish and ASL. She is a former Israeli National Champion in Kenpo Jitsu.
Kadia’s work in resolving active missing persons cases, combined with her on-screen presence bring a unique combination of forensic insight, deep determination and real world creativity to the production.
JIA RIZVI pursues stories that explore the conflict between powerful institutions and the individuals harmed by them in the name of protecting the social order. Her award-winning debut documentary, Conviction, examines wrongful conviction and the systemic failures that allow it to happen. In addition to filmmaking, Jia frequently writes for Forbes magazine, co-hosts the Speaking of Crime podcast, and is the founder and fashion designer behind Studio 15.
JIA is of Indian descent and was raised in Calgary, Canada.
I DON’T BELIEVE SHE DROWN.
WE WANT TO FIND OUT
WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR DAUGHTER.
SUBBARAYUDU KONANKI - FATHER OF SUDIKSHA KONANKI
DANGER IN THE DOMINICAN is the story of real people
putting their lives on the line
to solve a crime against a woman they don’t even know.
Set in a land of STRIKING BEAUTY,
the story examines the evils of greed
and the selflessness of those seeking JUSTICE.
SUDIKSHA’S FATE IS REVEALED,
THROUGH HER FAMILY, FRIENDS, WITNESSES
AND OUR TEAM OF TENACIOUS INVESTIGATORS.
Viewers witness the
investigative techniques, methods and dangers
of digging deep to solve a crime.
It is not merely a retelling of her story,
but an active investigation that unfolds in real time.
IT IS A STORY THAT COULD
BRING SUDIKSHA HOME ALIVE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
HEIDI HANSON - Executive Producer
