A heartbroken family is seeking closure as their daughter remains missing in the Dominican Republic. Parents of 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki believe their daughter drowned during a spring break trip to Punta Cana and are now asking authorities to officially declare her dead.
At a glance:
• Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student, disappeared during an early morning beach walk in Punta Cana on March 6
• Her parents have requested authorities declare her legally dead to begin the grieving process
• Joshua Riibe, the last person seen with Konanki, claims they nearly drowned together but he has not been charged with any crime
• Konanki’s clothes were found on the beach, suggesting a possible drowning
• Despite initial suspicions, the family now does not believe foul play was involved in their daughter’s disappearance
Parents Seek Closure After Exhaustive Search
Sudiksha Konanki, an Indian-origin student from the University of Pittsburgh, has been missing for almost two weeks in the Dominican Republic. The young woman disappeared on March 6 during a spring break trip with six female classmates at the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana. Widespread searches have failed to track her down.
Her parents have officially requested Dominican authorities declare their daughter dead. They say this will allow them to begin grieving and address “matters related to her absence.” After an extensive investigation that included searching the beaches and waters where she was last seen, the family has reluctantly accepted the possibility that their daughter drowned.
Final Moments Caught on Camera
Security footage from the resort shows Konanki’s final known movements. Surveillance video captured her at the hotel bar and lobby before her disappearance, and later on the beach around 4:15 a.m. with a group of people.
Joshua Riibe, a man Konanki met at the resort after arriving on March 3, was the last person seen with her. Camera footage shows the pair arm-in-arm with him shortly before her disappearance, and they were later spotted together on the beach after the rest of the group had left.
Riibe claims he and Konanki nearly drowned while swimming together. According to his account, he managed to pull Konanki from the water before passing out, but when he regained consciousness, she was nowhere to be found.
No Charges Filed Despite Ongoing Investigation
Dominican authorities have detained Riibe as a person of interest and confiscated his passport. Despite being under police surveillance, Riibe has not been charged with any crime.
His attorney, Beatriz Santana, demanded his release from police supervision, telling ABC News: “If he wants to leave the hotel, he cannot do that freely, but with police. His passport is seized despite not being officially charged.”
The investigation involves both the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and Dominican authorities. Konanki’s clothes were discovered on the beach, supporting the theory that she may have drowned, though her body has not been recovered.
In their formal letter to authorities, Konanki’s parents stressed that they no longer suspect foul play in their daughter’s disappearance.
