OAN Staff Abril Elfi 11:00 AM – Tuesday, March 18, 2025
The family of a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student, who disappeared during her spring break trip to the Dominican Republic, has urged local authorities to officially declare her deceased, despite it being less than two weeks since her disappearance.
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Subbarayudu and SreeDevi Konanki informed Dominican officials that they accept the account given by Joshua Riibe, the 22-year-old male suspect believed to be the last person to see their daughter alive—after surveillance footage recorded the two socializing.
Riibe, a St. Cloud University student, hails from Rock Rapids, Iowa.
Surveillance footage shows her heading to the beach with seven other individuals around 4:15 a.m. However, the majority of the group returned around 6 a.m., leaving her alone with Riibe. He later returned hours later without her.
“After an extensive search, authorities in the Dominican Republic have concluded that Sudiksha is believed to have drowned,” her parents wrote in a letter to La Policia Nacional, the national police of the country. “Her clothing was discovered on a beach in proximity to where she was last sighted. The individual with whom she was last seen is cooperating with the investigation, and no indications of foul play have been identified.”
Her parents stated that this decision was made after “much deliberation” and expressed gratitude to those involved in the international search for their daughter.
“Commencing this process will enable our family to start the grieving journey and manage issues related to her absence,” they wrote.
“Although no official declaration can alleviate our sorrow, we believe this step will provide some closure and allow us to honor her legacy.”
ALERT: The parents ACCEPT DROWNING AS LIKELY CAUSE OF DEATH of the American college student missing in the Dominican Republic. Their daughter Pittsburgh University student Sudiksha Konanki vanished March 6. Her parents now say they BELIEVE the story of the 22 year old guy who… pic.twitter.com/wK258TAOHK
On Tuesday, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, where the Konanki family resides, issued a statement noting, “the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki is a tragic event, and we cannot begin to understand the grief her family has been enduring. We have provided them with support to ensure a thorough and comprehensive investigation. We continue to meet with them personally and are available to assist through our Victim Advocate Unit.”
“Sudiksha’s family has indicated their belief that she drowned. While the final decision regarding such a declaration lies with the authorities in the Dominican Republic, we will assist the Konanki family in every possible way as we continue to examine the evidence and information gathered over the course of this investigation. We express our gratitude to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Dominican National Police for their commitment to this investigation and collaboration,” they added.
Riibe, 22, has not been charged with murder but remains under monitoring at the resort since Sudiksha’s disappearance. However, his family has asserted that his prolonged presence in the country is “irregular.” Authorities have also seized his passport while looking into his account of events.
In a transcript of Riibe’s police interview obtained by Fox News, he claimed he last saw her on the beach after both were caught in a strong current. He stated they struggled to return to shore and that he last observed her walking away in knee-deep water. Shortly thereafter, he allegedly “vomited and fell asleep on a chair.”
A hearing concerning the habeas petition is set for Tuesday afternoon, though this may change. A habeas petition is a legal mechanism that allows an individual in custody to challenge the legality of their detention, seeking release or a reduction in their sentence if the detention contravenes their Constitutional rights.
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