Empire State Review Team 
Search for Missing Student Sudiksha Konanki Expands to New Leads
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic (FOX 9) – The search for Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student reported missing in the Dominican Republic, intensifies as authorities engage a “person of interest” in the ongoing investigation.
Background on Disappearance
Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old from Chantilly, Virginia, vanished on March 6 while vacationing at the Riu República Hotel in Punta Cana with five friends. The group had arrived in the Dominican Republic on March 3.
Last seen on the beach early in the morning, Konanki’s disappearance coincided with a power outage that sent numerous hotel guests to the shore. Her personal belongings remained with her friends, raising concerns among her family and friends.
Investigation Updates
In response to the case, local authorities, along with the FBI and the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office of Virginia, have launched a coordinated search. Various methods, including aerial drones and detection dogs, are being employed to scour the waters along the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic.
Joshua Riibe, a 22-year-old student from St. Cloud State University, has been named a “person of interest” since he is said to be among the last people who interacted with Konanki. Authorities have emphasized, however, that he is not considered a suspect.
Details on the Person of Interest
Riibe, who is a senior majoring in land surveying and mapping sciences, was vacationing in Punta Cana but was not part of Konanki’s group. Surveillance footage reportedly shows him with her shortly before her disappearance.
According to law enforcement, while he is currently cooperating with investigators, there have been inconsistencies in his accounts of the events leading up to the disappearance.
Conflicting Accounts and Ongoing Investigations
In statements made to the media, Dominican President Luis Abinader noted that the last known contact between Riibe and Konanki involved a wave crashing over them while they were on the beach. Despite Riibe’s cooperation, discrepancies have arisen concerning various details of the timeline surrounding her disappearance.
Questions have also been raised regarding the specific timing of when Konanki was reported missing, further complicating the investigation.
