March 20: In a recent incident, Joshua Riibe, aged 22, a student at St. Cloud State University in Iowa, has returned to the United States from the Dominican Republic, having been detained there for almost two weeks. Riibe was the last individual seen with Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old student at the University of Pittsburgh who disappeared during a spring break vacation in Punta Cana.
Sudiksha Konanki flew into Punta Cana on March 3, 2025, with five of her female friends for a spring break getaway. It was on March 5 evening that the group met Riibe and his friend at their hotel. The two sets of friends hung out and agreed to go to the beach early on March 6. Security cameras at the Riu República Hotel recorded Konanki and Riibe walking towards the beach at 4:15 a.m.
Based on Riibe’s testimony, Konanki and he went into the ocean together. They were engulfed by a powerful wave, and it carried them deeper into the ocean. Utilizing his training as a lifeguard, Riibe tried to help Konanki back to shore. Riibe said he got to knee-deep water before becoming ill from swallowing seawater and vomiting. During this moment, Konanki mentioned retrieving her belongings, and when Riibe looked up again, she was gone. Believing she had returned to her room, he rested on a beach chair and later returned to his accommodations.
After Konanki’s vanishing, wide-ranging search operations were initiated by Dominican authorities with the help of U.S. agencies, such as the FBI. Search teams used drones, K9 teams, and divers to search the region, with special emphasis on coral reefs in the vicinity of the resort. No sign of Konanki was discovered despite all these efforts.
Riibe was singled out as the subject of interest for being the last person spotted with Konanki. Dominican authorities took him into custody for interrogation and seized his passport to ensure he remained in the country until such time when investigations were complete. During this time, Riibe was fully compliant with investigators, sharing elaborate descriptions of the events preceding Konanki’s vanishing.
On 18 March 2025, a court hearing took place in Higüey, Dominican Republic, to hear about Riibe’s detention. Throughout the hearing, Riibe complained about his wish to go home, explaining, “I really want to go home and see my family. I know I’m here to assist, but it’s been 10 days.” His lawyers argued that he had been detained without charges and his movements unfairly restricted. The court ruled in Riibe’s favor, giving him absolute freedom of movement and recognizing that he had not been accused of any offense.
After the court ruled, the Dominican prosecutor’s office proposed to relinquish Riibe’s seized passport. Yet for privacy purposes, Riibe preferred to obtain a new passport through the U.S. Consulate, which was issued immediately. With his father, Riibe left Santo Domingo on JetBlue on March 19, 2025, back in the United States.
Following the disappearance of their daughter, Sudiksha Konanki’s parents, Subbarayudu and Sreedevi Konanki, have described deep sorrow. They have acknowledged that their daughter most likely drowned and have officially asked Dominican authorities to legally declare her dead. This move, according to them, will enable the family to open up the mourning process and deal with issues pertinent to her absence. In a press conference, Subbarayudu said, “It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we are accepting the fact that our daughter has drowned. This is extremely hard for us to accept. We request you to please keep our daughter in your prayers.”
Even with the thorough search operations, Sudiksha Konanki’s body has not been found. The Dominican authorities are still investigating the events that led to her disappearance. Although foul play has not been eliminated, at the moment, there is no indication of criminal activity. The leading theory is that Konanki was carried away by powerful ocean currents and drowned.
The U.S. State Department has recognized the incident, highlighting its dedication to helping U.S. citizens overseas. Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said, “There is no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens who are overseas. We are certainly aware of the situation and take seriously our commitment to assist U.S. citizens abroad.”
Sudiksha Konanki’s disappearance is still an open and tragic case. While her family finds closure in legal statements, the absence of physical evidence remains challenging for investigators. The return of Joshua Riibe to the United States concludes his participation in the Dominican investigation, but questions regarding the night’s events remain. As the authorities persist, the thoughts and prayers of many are with the Konanki family at this trying time.
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