It's been two weeks since Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student, disappeared while on a spring break trip to the Dominican Republic. The situation has prompted a widespread search by both U.S. and local authorities by land, air, and water, but she hasn't been found.
Konanki was last seen on March 6, 2025, when she appeared to enter the beach before dawn with her friends and two other men, according to the Dominican Republic National Police. One of the men, 22-year-old Joshua Riibe, is believed to have been the last person with Konanki on the beach near the Hotel Riu Republica in Punta Cana. Riibe was classified as a "person of interest" and has been questioned by authorities from various agencies.
On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Riibe landed back in the U.S. after a judge in the Dominican Republic granted his request to be freed from police surveillance due to no charges being filed against him. The La Altagracia prosecutor's office indicated they were willing to return Riibe's passport, which had been confiscated as part of the investigation, but he opted to apply for a new one for "privacy reasons," which the U.S. consulate promptly provided.
This week, Konanki's family expressed their belief that the 20-year-old pre-med student drowned in Punta Cana. Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman stated, "Sudiksha’s family has expressed their belief that she drowned. While a final decision to make such a declaration rests with authorities in the Dominican Republic, we will support the Konanki family in every way possible as we continue to review the evidence and information made available to us in the course of this investigation." The family even sent a letter to Dominican authorities requesting a declaration of her death and a similar letter to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office for closure.
Additionally, surveillance footage reportedly shows Konanki and Riibe hanging out near each other at a bar just hours before her disappearance, although they never interacted in the video. The footage captures a moment where a person appearing to be Konanki leans over a grassy area, seemingly to vomit, while Riibe is nearby hunched over, also appearing to vomit.
According to a timeline released, Konanki arrived in the Dominican Republic with five friends on March 3, 2025. She informed her friends two days later that she would attend a party at the resort. Just after entering the beach area of the resort at 4:15 a.m. on March 6, Konanki, and her group were seen on surveillance cameras. A few hours later, around 6 a.m., the same cameras captured five women and one man leaving the beach, but Konanki is believed to have stayed behind with the young man. The last sighting involving the man was at around 9:55 a.m., when he left the beach with no apparent sign of Konanki.
Her friends officially reported her missing around 4 p.m. on March 6, marking 12 hours since her last known sighting. Authorities in the Dominican Republic became informed of her disappearance the following day, March 7, after a call from the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo. During this time, the Hotel Riu Republica mentioned that a "red flag was placed on the beach" around the time she vanished, indicating dangerous water conditions like strong currents and high waves.
The case has gained significance as Interpol issued a yellow notice last week, which is a worldwide police alert for missing persons. This alert serves to notify authorities if Konanki travels to another country. The investigation has involved extensive collaboration between the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and various federal agencies, including the State Department, FBI, DEA, and Homeland Security Investigations.
As the investigation unfolds, the hotel where Konanki was staying is actively supporting the search. A statement from Hotel Riu Republica expressed deep sympathy, saying, "From the moment her absence was reported, we have been working closely with local authorities, including the police and the navy, to conduct a thorough search. We would like to express our deepest sympathy to the family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. We are fully committed to doing everything in our power to assist in this situation." As search efforts progress, police are combing through security footage and cellphone data to uncover any sign of Konanki.
Regional Red Cross Director Fernando Placeres stated that there is currently no information regarding whether a body has been found. Sheriff Chapman indicated that his office does not have jurisdiction over the investigation but has deployed detectives to assist the Dominican authorities.
With emotions running high, the Konanki family remains hopeful for clarity and closure during this tragic situation. Authorities continue to search for answers that will shed light on what happened to Sudiksha Konanki in those critical hours before her disappearance, a case that has echoed sentiments of concern and urgency as investigations move forward.
