The disappearance of 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki has left authorities and her family searching for answers. The University of Pittsburgh biology student was last seen in the early hours of March 6 at Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. She had traveled there with five female friends for spring break.
20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki
Konanki was last spotted on hotel security cameras at 4 a.m., leaving for the beach with Joshua Riibe, 24. At 9:55 a.m., Riibe was recorded returning alone. Her friends, realizing she had never come back to their room, reported her missing at 4 p.m.
Despite extensive search efforts, including drones, divers, sniffer dogs, and military personnel, there has been no sign of Konanki. Authorities are now investigating how and why she vanished.
Konanki disappeared from the Riu Republica Resort, an adults-only beachfront hotel in Punta Cana. The area is known for its strong ocean currents, and red flags were reportedly posted on the day she vanished, warning of dangerous water conditions.
The search initially focused on the resort’s beach but has since expanded to Macao Beach, a more remote area with strong tides. Authorities have also monitored ocean currents overnight to determine where a body might drift if someone drowned.
Punta Cana is a resort town in the easternmost region of the Dominican Republic.
The case is being handled by Dominican police, the Dominican attorney general’s office, the FBI, a U.S. Embassy liaison, and the U.S. Coast Guard. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, where Konanki lived, has also sent detectives to assist local investigators.
Riibe claimed they had kissed in the ocean before they almost got swept away and had to save her from drowning. Riibe (pictured the next day) said he passed out and woke up on the beach
Officials have not confirmed whether her disappearance was accidental or the result of foul play. However, no evidence of blood, violence, or struggle has been found at the scene.
Authorities are currently reviewing security footage, phone records, and text messages while interviewing hotel staff, Konanki’s friends, and others who last saw her.
A person of interest has been identified and interviewed. However, officials emphasize that this does not mean they are a suspect. Dominican police also clarified that they do not use the term “person of interest” and have not officially named any suspects.
riibe a former high school wrestling star refused to answer questions.
The last known person to see Konanki was Joshua Riibe, a 24-year-old senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. Riibe claims they kissed in the ocean before a large wave swept them out to sea. He says he helped pull Konanki back toward shore but lost sight of her while vomiting seawater on the beach.
Riibe, a former high school wrestling champion, told investigators that he and Konanki entered the water, where they shared a kiss before being hit by a powerful wave that pulled them deeper into the ocean.
Riibe was seen on hotel security footage returning alone hours later. He has refused to answer several key questions about the night, including whether Konanki could swim, if she cried for help, and what he told his friends afterward. His lawyer has advised him not to speak further.
Authorities have issued an Interpol Yellow Notice, an international alert for missing persons, in case Konanki turns up in another country.
Her family traveled to Punta Cana to aid in search efforts but has since returned to Virginia. They have declined to comment publicly. The University of Pittsburgh remains in contact with them and is offering support.
Riibe stated that he and Konanki shared a kiss in the ocean before a powerful wave nearly swept them away, forcing him to rescue her from drowning. The next day, he said he woke up on the beach after passing out.
Despite an extensive search operation, no trace of Konanki has been found. Investigators remain open to all possibilities and urge anyone with information to come forward.
As the search continues, her devastated family pleads for answers.
Authorities urge anyone with information to come forward as they work to unravel the mystery surrounding Sudiksha Konanki’s disappearance.
The Dominican Republic, a top Caribbean destination, is known for its stunning beaches, all-inclusive resorts, and vibrant nightlife. Punta Cana, where Sudiksha Konanki vanished, attracts millions of tourists yearly with its crystal-clear waters and tropical climate.
While generally safe, the country has seen occasional incidents involving tourists, making this disappearance even more alarming. Authorities, alongside the FBI and Interpol, are intensifying efforts to locate Konanki, as her case raises concerns about visitor safety in the region.
