Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student, traveled to the Dominican Republic with five college friends on March 3, staying at the all-inclusive Riu República resort in Punta Cana.
Days later, on March 6, she disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
On the night of her disappearance, Konanki and her friends were dancing at a disco when parts of the resort experienced a 25-hour power outage. At some point, the group decided to take a moonlit walk on the beach. Surveillance footage captured Konanki walking toward the beach with five women and two men around 4:15 a.m. Approximately an hour later, five women and one man were seen leaving the beach, while Konanki remained behind with 24-year-old Joshua Riibe, a U.S. college student from Minnesota.
The next morning, Konanki’s friends went on an excursion she had not signed up for and only realized she was missing later that afternoon. When they confronted Riibe, he claimed he had fallen asleep on the beach after passing out and assumed Konanki had left before him. By this time, she had been missing for over 12 hours.
Dominican authorities launched an extensive search by land, air, and sea. They discovered her clothes near the beach but found no evidence of foul play. Riibe was questioned multiple times by investigators, including Dominican Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso. His passport was confiscated, and he was monitored by police as a key witness. Riibe stated that he and Konanki were swept into the ocean by a large wave but managed to return to shore. He last saw her in knee-deep water before vomiting and falling asleep on a lounge chair.
Konanki’s parents, Subbarayudu and SreeDevi Konanki, have since requested that Dominican authorities declare their daughter legally deceased. In their letter to officials, they acknowledged Riibe’s account and expressed their belief that she likely drowned. Despite ongoing investigations, no evidence of foul play has been uncovered.
Riibe has since returned to the United States after restrictions on his travel were lifted. The case remains open as Dominican authorities continue their investigation into Konanki’s disappearance.
Joining Nancy Grace:
Additional Guests
- Sheriff Mike Chapman – Loudoun County, Virginia, Hometown Sheriff
- Emily Leayman – Northern Virginia Local Editor for Patch.com; X: @EmilyLeayman
“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.
[Feature Photo: Sudiksha Konanki/Loudon County Sherifff’s Office]
