Search for Missing Pitt Student Sudiksha Konanki Intensifies as Last Witness Speaks Out

University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki is missing after disappearing from a Dominican Republic beach, with authorities actively investigating her last known whereabouts.

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The international search for missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki, 20, continues as new details emerge from the last person to see her before she vanished from a beach in Punta Cana. Authorities from the Dominican Republic, the United States, and India are working tirelessly to uncover the circumstances surrounding her disappearance on March 6, 2024.

According to officials, Konanki was last seen in the early hours of March 6 on the beach of the Riu República Hotel. She went missing when she was vacationing with five other University of Pittsburgh students for spring break. The night before, she and her friends had been drinking at the resort’s bar before heading to the beach.

Joshua Steven Riibe, a 22-year-old college senior from Iowa, told Dominican prosecutors that he and Konanki decided to swim in the ocean after their group left. Riibe described to prosecutors that a powerful wave struck them while in waist-deep water, pulling them out to sea.

“I held her under my arm and tried to swim us back to shore,” Riibe explained in a statement reported by Noticias SIN. “I was trained as a lifeguard but worked at pools, not in the ocean.”

Joshua Steven Riibe proudly holds his Certificate of Scholarship, showcasing a significant achievement.

According to Riibe, he struggled to keep himself and Konanki above water and swallowed a significant amount of seawater. “When I finally touched the sand, I put her in front of me. She stood up and began to walk in the shallow water to retrieve her belongings,” he said.

Riibe claims that was the last time he saw her. He reportedly became violently ill from ingesting seawater and began vomiting on the beach. Afterward, he lay down on a lounge chair and passed out. When he awoke, he assumed Konanki had returned to her room.

Surveillance footage shows Riibe returning to his hotel room alone at 8:55 a.m. on March 6. Konanki never returned to her room. Her friends reported her missing later that day after failing to locate her on the beach or in the resort.

Dominican authorities initially investigated the case as a possible drowning, citing dangerous sea conditions with high waves on the night of her disappearance. However, the prosecutor’s office has since expanded the investigation to explore the possibility that Konanki’s case may involve foul play, including potential kidnapping or human trafficking. Dominican officials have stated they are leaving "no possibilities off the table."

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office in Virginia, where Konanki's family resides, sent two detectives to the Dominican Republic to assist with the investigation. Sheriff Michael Chapman said inconsistencies in Riibe’s early statements could be attributed to language barriers during translation. “He seemed forthright with our detectives,” Chapman told CNN.

Riibe, who has not been charged with any crime, remains under heavy police surveillance at his hotel. His passport has been confiscated, and he can only leave his room under police escort. His family and attorney have raised concerns about his treatment, claiming he was initially questioned without legal representation or an official translator.

“Despite his willingness to cooperate, Joshua has been detained under irregular conditions,” his parents, Albert and Tina Riibe, said in a statement. “We trust that due process will be respected and that the investigation will proceed fairly.”

The Riibe family has expressed sympathy for Konanki’s loved ones. “We express our deep sorrow and solidarity with Sudiksha’s family,” their statement reads. “We share their hope that she will be found as soon as possible.”

Authorities have yet to recover Konanki’s body. However, her sarong-style cover-up and flip-flops were found on a lounge chair where she was last seen at the beach. Photos of these items have circulated in Dominican media.

Dominican Republic Navy divers have searched an area roughly 24 nautical miles from the Riu República Hotel. Officials believe that if Konanki drowned, her body could have been pushed toward the coast or coral reefs by strong currents.

Konanki’s father, Subbarayudu Konanki, has asked investigators to explore every possible scenario, including kidnapping or human trafficking. “She wouldn’t survive three days in the water. Something else may have happened,” he told CNN.

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office continues to support Konanki’s family during what Sheriff Chapman describes as a “tragic and difficult time.”

“We urge caution around public speculation,” Chapman said. “We are committed to ensuring a thorough and complete investigation before drawing any conclusions.”

Konanki’s disappearance follows a string of drownings in Punta Cana earlier this year. In January, four tourists were swept away by strong currents near the same beach where Konanki vanished.

For now, the search for Sudiksha Konanki continues, with authorities and her loved ones holding onto hope for answers and closure.