Sudiksha Konanki disappeared in March 2025 whereas on spring break within the Dominican Republic with mates.
Sudiksha beforehand attended the Thomas Jefferson Excessive College for Science and Expertise. She is now a junior in biology on the College of Pittsburgh. She is an Indian citizen and a everlasting US resident. She lives together with her household in Chantilly, Virginia.
Shekar Pendem, a neighbor and good friend of Sudiksha’s household, described her as a sort and sensible lady within the close-knit group.
“She was a superb pupil. She went to one of many nice colleges,” stated Shekar who lived subsequent to the Konanki household for greater than 10 years. He stated she has two youthful siblings, who’re twins.
Sudiksha is a part of an Acapella group referred to as Avaaz. They describe themselves as South Asian fusion.
On March 3, 2025, Sudiksha travelled to Punta Cana within the Dominican Republic with 5 feminine mates for spring break.
Some information in regards to the location:
Punta Cana, a well-liked Caribbean vacationer vacation spot, is situated within the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, recognized for its seashores, resorts, and the Punta Cana Worldwide Airport, which is the busiest within the nation.
When it comes to crime, Numbeo’s International Crime Index provides Punta Cana a rating of 46.65 out of 100. That’s middle-of-the-pack for world locations, although it’s equal to the scores for Edmonton, Brooklyn, Stockholm, and Frankfurt, Germany.
It’s additionally good for the Caribbean, the place most scores are within the 60s (excessive scores equal extra crime).
In 2023, in keeping with Statista, roughly 1.6 million American vacationers went to Punta Cana, up 29% from the earlier yr. That quantity represented virtually half of all tourism to the resort space.
DominicanToday.com stories that Punta Cana Worldwide Airport is projecting an 8% improve in traveler arrivals in 2025 – with almost half of these coming from the U.S.
The Dominican Republic is classed as stage 2 within the State Division’s four-tier journey advisory rubric, which means vacationers are suggested to train “elevated warning” touring there. It warns that violent crime is a priority all through the nation.
In accordance with NBC, Sudiskha and her mates had been staying on the Riu Republica Resort.
Positioned on a heavenly seashore, the Lodge Riu Republica – Adults Solely is your good possibility for having fun with a energetic vacation in Punta Cana. This adults-only resort on the Enviornment Gorda seashore is good for teams of mates, has free WiFi, a different gastronomic provide and the very best 24-hour All-Inclusive service.
The greater than 1,300 rooms of the Lodge Riu Republica are distributed in three buildings. In all of them you’ll take pleasure in the very best facilities, like satellite tv for pc TV, air con, a protected, a minibar and beverage dispensers, amongst many others. And, within the amenities of this adults-only resort on the Enviornment Gorda seashore, you’ll discover eight swimming swimming pools, some with swim-up bars or areas with water slides so that you can expertise a refreshing and fun-filled keep.
Sudiskha was final seen early on the morning of Thursday March 6, 2025 after she went to the seashore with mates.
She made two funds by way of her Venmo to an unspecified person on the app on March 5, simply hours earlier than she disappeared.
The primary transaction was made at 2.54pm to an unnamed ‘new person,’ and Sudiksha used a sailboat emoji to explain it.
The second was made at 3:38pm and the outline was Coco Bongo, which is a famend nightclub in Punta Cana.
Her mates determined to return to their rooms at round 4.15am, however Sudiksha determined to stick with some folks she had met on her journey. None of those folks had been from the College of Pittsburgh. One of many folks with Sudiksha has been recognized as Joshua Riibe (24), a St Cloud State pupil. Simply to notice, some stories say that Joshua is 22, however most say he’s 24. In accordance with Fox9, the others within the group went again to their resort at round 6am, Joshua and Sudiksha remained on the seashore. Joshua might be seen on CCTV going again to the resort at round 9.55am. Sudiksha was not with him. He was barefoot by that point and was not sporting his shirt.
Sudiksha’s mates went on an tour that day and didn’t understand that she was lacking till round 4pm, after they raised the alarm.
When police initially questioned Joshua, he stated that they had been “in waist-deep water, speaking and kissing somewhat,” in keeping with a transcript of the interview obtained by NBC Information. A wave crashed, taking them each “out to sea,” it quotes him saying. ‘I used to be getting drained. I noticed she was getting bored with swimming too. I’ve been a lifeguard. I grabbed her and pulled her out. I held her underneath my arm and swam to get her out of the water,’ Joshua stated. “I saved making an attempt to get her to breathe, however that didn’t permit me to breathe on a regular basis, and I swallowed a variety of water,” he stated, telling investigators that he used to work as a lifeguard. He stated he obtained out of the water, vomited, after which fell asleep on the sand. He stated that he assumed Sudiksha had performed the identical and gone again to her resort room which is why he was not alarmed.
“The final time I noticed her, I requested if she was OK. I didn’t hear her reply,” he stated. “I seemed round and didn’t see anybody. I assumed she’d grabbed her issues and left.”
‘I felt actually unhealthy and drained. I laid down on a seashore chair. I fell asleep as a result of I couldn’t go far,’ Joshua stated.
‘Then I wakened due to the solar and since mosquitoes had been biting me. I went to my good friend’s room to get my telephone after which went again to my room to sleep.’
Throughout questioning, Joshua was requested if Sudiksha was in a position to swim, if she made any gestures or cries within the sea, if he referred to as the cops or advised the resort, if he had advised his mates about what occurred and was additionally requested how he felt in regards to the scenario.
To all of these questions, he stated: ‘My attorneys advise me to not reply that query and I observe their recommendation’, earlier than going silent.
In accordance with FoX5DC, Joshua has given various tales about what occurred that evening.
In accordance with a leaked police transcript obtained by Fox Information, Riibe initially claimed they had been swept offshore by a powerful wave, however he managed to convey Konanki again to land. He stated he then final noticed her strolling away in knee-deep water towards her belongings.
In one other model, Riibe reportedly stated he fell ailing and handed out on a seashore chair whereas Konanki was nonetheless within the water.
Nationwide Police launched a search effort Friday morning, utilizing drones, helicopters, divers, boats and canine models. No indicators of blood or aggression had been discovered on the seashore, Nationwide Police spokesperson Diego Pesqueira stated.
Two months earlier than Sudiksha disappeared, 4 European vacationers drowned on the similar resort. Their our bodies had been discovered inside 48 hours.
Their our bodies had been recovered inside 48 hours.
Sudiksha’s mates had been resulting from fly again to the US that day, however they prolonged their journey to assist seek for her. The search effort was expanded Monday.
The resort has stated that entry to the seashore is at all times open and that there are safety guards stationed across the space.
The investigation into Sudiksha’s disappearance is being led by Dominican police, the Dominican legal professional normal’s workplace, the FBI and a U.S. Embassy liaison. The U.S. Coast Guard can be concerned.
Nationwide Police despatched groups to observe the seashore in a single day not less than twice to observe how the water strikes to see the place a physique would drift if somebody drowned and to see the place the waves crash.
A resort spokesperson stated pink flags — which point out “that the ocean had a powerful present and really excessive waves” — had been flying when Sudiksha vanished.
Authorities have stated they had been wanting into Sudiksha’s telephone and textual content information and that she didn’t seem to have a historical past of extreme alcohol consumption.
The sheriff’s workplace stated it filed for Interpol to subject a yellow discover, a worldwide police alert for a lacking individual, which can alert authorities if she travels to a different nation.
Sheriff Mike Chapman of Loudoun County, Virginia, the place Sudiksha lives, despatched detectives to the Dominican Republic as they work underneath the FBI’s steerage.
“Among the info has been disjointed, inconsistent,” Sheriff Chapman stated of the search to date.
On Friday March 14, 2025, Joshua’s passport was confiscated by Dominican authorities. Media shops reached out to his authorized representatives. An electronic mail saying that Joshua “has been confined to the resort for the reason that investigation started. He’s completely escorted by the police anyplace he goes. So no, he isn’t free to go away,” was despatched in reply.
In accordance with the Loudoun County Sheriff, Joshua is an individual of curiosity within the case.
Authorities within the Dominican Republic stated Thursday they don’t use the time period “individual of curiosity” and that at this level, nobody is taken into account a suspect.
On Sunday March 16, 2025, Joshua was seen on the seashore the place Sudiksha disappeared, alongside together with his father and an legal professional. He was seen declaring on the sea. He advised NBC “I’m simply making an attempt to assist them out,” including, “The ocean is a harmful place.”
Joshua’s dad and mom, Albert and Tina Riibe, have criticized the remedy of their son, saying he has been subjected to “irregular situations” and repeated questioning with out authorized counsel or official translators for days.
“He has remained in his resort room underneath police surveillance and has been repeatedly taken to the police station since March 6,” the household stated in an announcement by their attorneys.
“Above all, we want to contribute to the search efforts,” they stated. “Joshua is deeply dismayed by her disappearance and has totally cooperated from the very starting.”
Searches are sometimes stood down after ten days nevertheless it may final for so long as six months in a scaled down capability, Dominican media has reported.
On March 16, media stories acknowledged that a few of Sudiksha’s belongings had been discovered on a seashore chair, close to the place she was final seen.
Sudiksha will be seen within the CCTV photographs with Joshua, sporting a white swimsuit cover-up. This was discovered on a chaise lounge on the seashore. Her sandals had been additionally close to the identical chair.
On March 17, Sudiksha’s dad and mom wrote a letter, requesting that she be declared useless.
We’ve had plenty of questions on why they requested this so shortly. This information is from CBS:
So what’s behind the dad and mom asking authorities to declare their daughter useless? Is it a request for closure or for authorized causes? KDKA-TV requested Pittsburgh legal professional Phil DiLucente.
“I feel it was very clear that is what’s referred to as an influence play,” DiLucente stated.
DiLucente believes this can be a strategic transfer and wouldn’t be shocked if the dad and mom’ authorized counsel steered it.
“They wish to ensure that all of the rescue and efforts and capital and all the cash that’s being put into this investigation that it simply be centered on who did this to my little one, not the place is my little one, not what occurred so far as there being a possible rescue. So, the dad and mom are very strategic,” he stated.
One more reason to declare a lacking individual deceased consists of processing an individual’s property, however the timing will depend on the lacking individual’s residence state.
“A variety of instances it’s for insurance coverage functions, a variety of instances it’s for property, however as you already know, she’s from Virginia, that’s a 7 yr that has to move earlier than you will be declared deceased, similar as Pennsylvania,” DiLucente stated.
Which means the state of Virginia’s code says 7 years have to move earlier than a lacking individual is presumed useless. It additionally states if an individual disappears in another country and the physique isn’t discovered, then the Division of State can subject a report of presumptive dying.
On March 18, Joshua appeared in court docket within the Dominican Republic. A choose granted his request for freedom. Joshua argued that Dominican authorities inappropriately detained him with out expenses and challenged their remedy of him.
“I actually wish to go residence and see my household,” Joshua testified. “I perceive I’m right here to assist nevertheless it’s been 10 days.” Joshua stated he was “first detained on Saturday” and believed he was “going to go residence that day.”
Joshua additionally spoke in court docket about assembly with Sudiksha’s mom. He stated she hugged and thanked him for saving her daughter the primary time. “I’ve performed what I can however at the moment there’s not a lot now that I can do,” Joshua stated, including: “I’m simply ready to go residence and return to my life.”
After the choose’s ruling, Joshua’s attorneys expressed “deep gratitude to the Dominican judiciary and all establishments concerned within the Joshua Steven Riibe case for recognizing and upholding the rule of regulation and exhibiting respect for his basic rights as a overseas citizen within the Dominican Republic.”
SOURCE LIST
https://www.fox9.com/information/sudiksha-konanki-missing-timeline-so-far
https://www.nbcnews.com/information/world/sudiksha-konanki-missing-university-pittsburgh-student-what-know-rcna196341
https://www.nbcnews.com/information/us-news/university-pittsburgh-student-missing-spring-break-trip-dominican-repu-rcna195539
https://www.bhtp.com/weblog/safe-travel-punta-cana/#:~:textual content=Aboutpercent20Puntapercent20Cana’spercent20Safety,otherpercent20partspercent20ofpercent20thepercent20country.%22
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/information/article-14499867/sudiksha-konanki-joshua-riibe-missing-student-police-interview-punta-cana.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/information/article-14499867/sudiksha-konanki-joshua-riibe-missing-student-police-interview-punta-cana.html
https://www.fox5dc.com/information/sudiksha-konanki-missing-dominican-republic-ag-grills-key-witness-joshua-riibe
https://folks.com/sudiksha-konankis-clothes-found-on-beach-chair-11697892
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/information/article-14502425/missing-pitt-student-sudiksha-konanki-items-chair-search.html
https://version.cnn.com/2025/03/18/us/sudiksha-konanki-missing-student-punta-cana-tuesday/index.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/information/why-family-missing-college-student-declare-dead
