Heartbreaking mystery— New details emerge in search for missing Pitt student Sudiksha Konanki
Surveillance footage shows Sudiksha Konanki walking with a man before disappearing in the Dominican Republic
The search for Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student who vanished while on spring break in Punta Cana, has taken a heartbreaking turn. The last known footage of her shows her walking along the beach at dawn with a man, just hours before she disappeared without a trace.
What was meant to be a fun getaway with friends has now turned into a desperate search for answers. Sudiksha, a Virginia native, had traveled to the Dominican Republic with five female friends in early March. Three days later, on March 6, she went missing, leaving her family and authorities in shock.
The last confirmed sighting of her was around 5:50 a.m. She was seen walking along the beach with another tourist, 22-year-old Joshua Steven Riibe, a student from Minnesota. Since then, search teams from the U.S., the Dominican Republic, and India—Sudiksha’s family’s home country—have been working tirelessly to find her.
“This is one of the largest operations we have carried out for the rescue of a person,” Agustín Morillo Rodríguez, general commander of the Dominican Republic Navy, told CNN.
Was it an accident—or something more?
Initially, authorities suspected that Sudiksha may have drowned, as the ocean conditions that night were rough, with high waves. However, investigators are now looking into other possibilities.
A newly released surveillance photo shows Sudiksha and Riibe appearing affectionate shortly before she disappeared. This has raised more questions about the events leading up to that morning.
Riibe told investigators that he and Sudiksha had been drinking and waded into the ocean together. He claimed that a large wave knocked them over and pulled them out to sea. As a former lifeguard, he said he tried to keep them both afloat, but he swallowed too much water. He insists that he managed to get them back to shore, but after that, his memory goes blank.
“The last time I saw her, I asked if she was OK. I didn’t hear her answer,” he recalled. “I looked around and didn’t see anyone. I thought she’d grabbed her things and left.”
Authorities question Riibe’s account
Though Riibe is not officially a suspect, authorities have been scrutinizing his story. Dominican police have confiscated his passport, preventing him from leaving the country, and have subjected him to multiple rounds of questioning.
His parents, Albert and Tina Riibe, claim he is being treated unfairly. They allege that he was questioned for hours without proper translation services and that his rights have not been fully respected.
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Despite this, Riibe has continued to insist he has nothing to hide. “I’m just trying to help them out,” he told reporters. “The ocean is a dangerous place.”
A father’s plea for a deeper investigation
Sudiksha’s family is devastated and searching for answers. Her father, Subbarayudu Konanki, has formally asked authorities to consider all possibilities, including kidnapping or human trafficking.
One concerning detail is that Sudiksha’s phone and wallet were left with her friends—a habit that was unusual for her. Her father finds this highly suspicious and believes it could indicate foul play.
With each passing day, the mystery deepens, and the search for Sudiksha continues. Could she have been swept away by the ocean, or is there more to the story than meets the eye?
Authorities, family members, and concerned citizens are hoping for answers soon.
