Important Information on US Student’s Disappearance During Spring Break in Dominican Republic

The search for Sudiksha Konanki continued into another day, as per authorities.

The University of Pittsburgh college student from Virginia went missing from the island’s east coast on March 7. She was last seen on March 6 while on vacation in the Dominican Republic with five other individuals during spring break.

During Konanki’s disappearance, there was a power outage at the Hotel Riu República in Punta Cana, a popular beach resort town in the eastern part of the country.

The Ministerio Publico stated that various law enforcement agencies, including the Dominican Republic National Police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office with the support of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), have been involved in the search for her.

The FBI and HSI declined to comment.

In a statement on March 13, a U.S. State Department spokesperson mentioned, “We are aware of reports of a University of Pittsburgh student missing in the Dominican Republic.”

Her Disappearance

The 21-year-old was last seen on the beach at 4:50 a.m. when she and other guests left the Riu Republica hotel during the power outage.

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For reasons unknown at present, Konanki left her phone and wallet with her friends, which is unusual as she is never without her phone, according to her parents.

NTD, The Epoch Times’ sister media, obtained information that surveillance footage from the hotel lobby on March 6 showed Konanki and friends sharing and consuming some type of beverage around 3:30 a.m. They later moved to Bar Macao and shared another type of beverage. A sarong-style nightgown and sandals found on a beach chaise longue were identified as belonging to Konanki by acquaintances.

Facts About Sudiksha Konanki

Konanki, an Indian citizen and U.S. permanent resident, graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia in 2022 and is expected to graduate from the University of Pittsburgh in 2026, according to LinkedIn.

Upon arriving in the Dominican Republic on March 9, her parents, Subbarayudu and Sreedevi Konanki, requested to expand the investigation to include possible kidnapping or abduction in her case.

They have since returned to the U.S. where Konanki’s father met Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman privately on March 12 in Virginia.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) stated that Subbarayudu Konanki appreciates the ongoing efforts to find his daughter and urged Sheriff Chapman to do everything possible to ensure local authorities continue the search and investigation.

Male Friend Identified as ‘Person of Interest’

On March 13, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) confirmed that Joshua Steven Riibe, 24, remains a person of interest and clarified that he is not a suspect.

“This individual may have been the last person to have seen her, so he is of particular interest,” stated LCS Officer Chad Quinn. “The term person of interest is being used in collaboration with the FBI. I cannot comment on any designations by local police.”

Prior information from LCSO indicated that Riibe may have also been a guest at the Hotel Riu Republica and had met Konanki on-site. The hotel is known as an adults-only, all-inclusive “party resort” near the Cana Bay Golf Club.

He remains in the Dominican Republic at the request of local police and is still a person of interest to LCSO due to his potential connection to Konanki before her disappearance.

Riibe is currently a student at St. Cloud State University (SCSU) in Minnesota majoring in land surveying and mapping sciences, as per SCSU spokesperson Zach Dwyer. He has been at the university since 2023 and is not a student-athlete.

A family member of Riibe expressed hardship in a Facebook message, requesting privacy during this challenging time.

Investigation Remains ‘Missing Person’ Case

There have been no arrest warrants issued as the investigation remains non-criminal, according to LCSO.

“This is still considered a missing person investigation,” mentioned LCS Officer Thomas A. Julia.

LCSO sent detectives to assist the FBI in Punta Cana as they aided the Dominican Republic National Police with the investigation.

Authorities, including drones, helicopters, and K9 units, were deployed by Civil Defense spokesman Jensen Sánchez near the shore where Konanki was last seen.

A high-level task force was established to delve into Konanki’s disappearance, as announced by Attorney General of the Republic Yeni Berenice Reynoso. The investigating authority is exploring all possibilities, including accidental and intentional scenarios.

“We are utilizing all resources for a comprehensive investigation,” Reynoso confirmed. “Her family, the Dominican community, and the U.S. community can be assured that we will continue our investigative efforts until all questions are answered as required by law enforcement.”

Reynoso noted ongoing search operations in Uvero Alto-Macao, Macao-Playa Arena Gorda, and Cortecito-Playa Arena Gorda regions of the country.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.