Sreeja Reddy Koya Missing in Boston: Indian Student Vanishes on Evening Walk
Sreeja Reddy Koya, a 23-year-old master's student from India, has been missing in Boston for nearly a week, and police say the search is now focused on the shoreline near Carson Beach in Dorchester. Koya was last seen on the night of Monday, November 2, 2026, leaving her home in the Edison Green area for an evening walk. She never came back. Her phone has been switched off since she disappeared, and its last known location was traced to the Carson Beach or Harbor Point area, a stretch of the Dorchester waterfront that officers have been searching ever since.
Key Points
- Sreeja Reddy Koya, 23, a master's student at the University of Massachusetts Boston, has been missing since the night of Monday, November 2, 2026.
- She was last seen at about 9:45 p.m. leaving her home in Edison Green, Dorchester, for an evening walk; a patrolling officer reportedly saw a young woman walking barefoot.
- Her phone has been switched off since she disappeared, with its last known location near Carson Beach or Harbor Point.
- Friends reported her missing to Boston Police on November 3, and the department issued a missing-person alert on November 4.
- As of Saturday, November 7, she remained missing, and officials in India have asked the Indian government to coordinate with Boston Police.
What Happened
Koya left her home in Edison Green, Dorchester, at about 9:45 p.m. on Monday, November 2, for what was described as an evening walk. When she did not return, her friends grew worried and tried to reach her, but her phone was switched off and no one could say where she had gone. One detail has drawn attention: a patrolling officer reportedly saw a young woman walking barefoot in the area. Police have not publicly confirmed the woman was Koya, but the sighting is part of the timeline investigators are working through.
Her friends reported her missing to Boston Police on Tuesday, November 3. On Wednesday, November 4, the department issued a formal missing-person alert, asking the public for help. Police describe Koya as 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 5 inches tall, slim build, black hair. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the District C-11 detectives in Dorchester at (617) 343-4335. By Saturday, November 7, five days after she vanished, Koya was still missing, and police have not announced any arrests or named any suspects.
Background and Context
Koya comes from Shabdullapuram village in Nalgonda district, Telangana, in southern India. She moved to the United States in 2025 for a master's degree at the University of Massachusetts Boston, due to finish in about six months. Her disappearance has hit two communities at once: friends and fellow students in Boston, and her family in Telangana, following the search from thousands of miles away. Carson Beach is a popular evening-walk spot on the harbour, but at night in November it is dark, cold and largely empty, and the phone's last location has made it the focus of the search.
Sreeja Reddy Koya Missing in Boston
The search has now stretched across most of a week, and the public facts are few but specific. She left home at 9:45 p.m. on November 2 for a walk. An officer reportedly saw a young woman walking barefoot. Her phone went silent, its last location near the water. Her friends reported her missing the next day, and the police alert followed a day later. Investigators will be trying to join those points into a single account of that Monday night.
The barefoot sighting has prompted the most discussion in coverage from India, because it suggests something was already wrong that night. Walking barefoot on a cold November night is unusual, and if the woman was Koya, it raises questions about her safety after she left home. Police have not confirmed the connection, but investigators will be working to confirm or rule it out. The phone is the other key piece of evidence: if its final signal was near Carson Beach, that places her, or at least her phone, at the waterfront that night.
Reactions
In Telangana, the case has reached the state government. Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy has urged India's External Affairs Ministry and the Consulate General of India in Boston to coordinate with Boston Police on the search. It reflects the practical problem when a relative goes missing abroad: the family is in India, the investigation is in Boston, and the consulate is the bridge between the two.
In Boston, the police response has followed the usual pattern for a missing adult: a report from friends, a formal alert with a description and contact number, and a public appeal for information. District C-11 covers Dorchester, where Koya lives. The University of Massachusetts Boston has not been reported as issuing a public statement.
Why It Matters
This case matters most to the family waiting for news, and Koya's family is waiting in Telangana, far from the city where their daughter disappeared. They cannot walk the streets she walked or speak to the officers searching for her, relying instead on consular officials and news reports. It also shows the vulnerability of international students living alone abroad. Koya moved to the United States in 2025 and was months from finishing her degree. Her disappearance was noticed quickly only because her friends acted fast, reporting her missing within a day.
What Happens Next
The search continues, and the next steps depend on what investigators find. If phone records or camera footage from Edison Green and Carson Beach clarify her movements, police may narrow the search. If someone comes forward with a sighting, the timeline could shift. For now, the public appeal remains open, and District C-11 detectives can be reached at (617) 343-4335. As of Saturday, November 7, Koya remained missing, and the case had entered its sixth day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sreeja Reddy Koya?
Sreeja Reddy Koya is a 23-year-old master's student at the University of Massachusetts Boston, from Shabdullapuram village in Nalgonda district, Telangana, India. She moved to the United States in 2025, due to finish her degree in about six months.
When did Sreeja Reddy Koya go missing?
She was last seen at about 9:45 p.m. on Monday, November 2, 2026, leaving her home in Edison Green, Dorchester, for an evening walk. Friends reported her missing on November 3, and Boston Police issued a missing-person alert on November 4.
Where was she last seen?
She was last seen leaving her home in Edison Green, Dorchester. Her phone's last known location was near Carson Beach or Harbor Point, and a patrolling officer reportedly saw a young woman walking barefoot nearby, though police have not confirmed it was her.
What does Sreeja Reddy Koya look like?
Police describe her as 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 5 inches tall, with a slim build and black hair.
How can I help if I have information?
Anyone with information should call 911 or Boston Police District C-11 detectives in Dorchester at (617) 343-4335.
Related coverage: Missing Utah Teen Kylie Arellano Found Safe in Oregon and Boulder Halloween Shooting Kills CU Student. Sources: Indian Express, NDTV, Times of India, November 2026.
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