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The parents of missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki have made the heartbreaking request for Dominican Republic authorities to declare their daughter deceased. The 20-year-old went missing on March 6 while vacationing in Punta Cana with friends for Spring Break.
Sudiksha Konanki’s Disappearance
Konanki, a biology and chemistry student, was staying at the RIU República Hotel with five friends when she was last seen around 4:15 AM. She was walking towards the beach with her friends and a ‘person of interest,’ Joshua Riibe, 22, an Iowa native and St. Cloud State University student.
According to Dominican National Police, the group returned to the resort at approximately 6 AM, leaving Konanki and Riibe alone on the beach. Riibe, a former lifeguard, claims the two were in waist-deep water when a strong wave pulled them under. He said he managed to pull Konanki back to shore before vomiting seawater and passing out. When he awoke, she was gone.
Parents Accept Drowning Theory
After extensive search efforts, Konanki’s parents, Subbarayudu and SreeDevi Konanki, have formally accepted that their daughter likely drowned. In a letter sent to the Dominican Republic’s National Police, they requested a declaration of death to begin their grieving process and address legal matters related to their daughter’s absence.
“With great sorrow and a heavy heart, we are grappling with the loss of our daughter to drowning,” said Subbarayudu Konanki. “We ask for privacy and understanding as we focus on healing and supporting our other children.”
Investigation and Police Actions
Despite no evidence of foul play, authorities initially detained Riibe, confiscating his passport while he remained under surveillance at the resort. However, on March 18, a Dominican judge ruled that he should be freed from police monitoring. He is now allowed to move freely in the country, though it remains unclear when he will return to the U.S.
Riibe, who has cooperated with investigators, expressed his frustration, stating, “I’ve done what I can, but at this time, there’s not much I can do. I’m just waiting to go home.”
International Search Efforts
The Dominican Republic’s Public Prosecutor’s Office, in collaboration with the FBI, U.S. Department of State, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and University of Pittsburgh police, has been conducting an extensive investigation. Additionally, Interpol has issued a Yellow Notice to aid in the international search for Konanki, as yellow alerts are typically used for unexplained disappearances.
Newly Released Footage
Recent surveillance footage from the RIU República Hotel shows Konanki socializing at a resort bar before her disappearance. Another video captures Riibe visibly distressed outside, being comforted by another man. However, police emphasize that while he remains a ‘person of interest,’ he is not considered a suspect.
Conflicting Perspectives
While Dominican authorities continue to investigate multiple possibilities—including drowning, kidnapping, or abduction—Konanki’s parents have chosen to accept the drowning explanation, citing the discovery of her clothes near the beach. However, earlier statements from the family raised concerns about why her body has not washed ashore if she had drowned.
