Here’s the latest on the intense hunt for 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki during spring break in Punta Cana:
Disappearance & beach footage
Sudiksha, a University of Pittsburgh student, went missing early on March 6, 2025, from the RIU República resort beach in Punta Cana .
Surveillance shows her strolling arm‑in‑arm with 22‑year‑old Joshua Riibe, later entering waist‑deep water, with her last sighting around 4:50 a.m. .
Riibe: the last known person with her
Joshua Riibe, a senior from St. Cloud State Univ., has been labeled a person of interest by the sheriff’s office .
He claims a big wave swept them out to sea, he rescued them both, then she disappeared after he became ill .
However, his account has changed multiple times during various interrogations .
Search efforts & official response
Over 300 personnel, including Dominican military, police, firefighters, navy, drones, divers, plus FBI and Interpol, have been searching land, air, and sea .
Authorities initially determined drowning to be the likely cause, citing rough seas as a potential factor .
Foul play suspicions
Sudiksha’s family, frustrated by the lack of physical evidence and her missing body, have voiced doubts, calling for an abduction inquiry .
Veteran private eye TJ Ward, known for the Natalee Holloway case, suggested the possibility of kidnapping, arguing her body would likely have washed ashore if she drowned .
Human angle & current phase
Sudiksha’s parents believe she tragically drowned, and have petitioned to have her declared legally deceased for closure .
Riibe, though cooperating and not charged, has been under continuous police escort in Punta Cana and recently returned to the U.S. after questioning .
What we’re still waiting on:
No body or definitive physical evidence found yet.
Inconsistencies in Riibe’s statements remain a major focus.
Authorities have not ruled out anything—from drowning to foul play or abduction.
This case echoes earlier beach disappearances, drawing comparisons for its perplexing gaps and heartbreaking uncertainty. The search is far from over, and the family, along with international authorities including the FBI and Interpol, continue to push for answers.
Let me know if you’d like updates on the investigation, dive into background profiles, or explore similar cases.
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