Key Witness Emerges in Sudiksha Konanki Disappearance: What He Revealed Will Shock You!

The search for Sudiksha Konanki continues.

After key witness Joshua Riibe told Dominican Republic National Police about his encounter with the University of Pittsburgh student who went missing while on a spring break trip in Punta Cana, he was seen on the beach alongside investigators amid the search.

The 22-year-old—who told investigators that he and Konanki were swept into a wave while swimming in the ocean—pointed towards the water on March 16 alongside his attorney, investigators and security officials keeping people out of the area, according to an NBC News reporter on the scene.

“I’m just trying to help them out,” he told the outlet while at the Riu República Resort, where he and Konanki were staying respectively. “The ocean is a dangerous place.”

While Riibe is not considered a suspect by Dominican Republic authorities, who are leading the investigation, the Loudon County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office has said he is considered a person of interest in the missing persons case. (The sheriff’s office, where Konanki’s family lives, has no jurisdiction over the Dominican Republic investigation but has sent officials to Punta Cana to assist on the U.S. side of the investigation.)

Even so, the St. Cloud State University student has been “confined” to the resort since the investigation began, the law firm representing him told NBC News in an email March 15.

“His passport has been confiscated,” the statement continued. “He is permanently escorted by the police anywhere he goes. So no, he is not free to leave.”

Dominican National Police declined to confirm to the outlet whether Riibe’s passport was confiscated.

The family of Riibe released a message to the media, expressing condolences to Konanki’s family while also defending Riibe in the situation that recently occurred between them.

As a devoted follower, I am profoundly troubled by her vanishing, and from day one, I’ve been fully committed to helping in the search and fact-finding process. The statement released expresses understanding that this intricate and agonizing situation affects everyone involved, and we have faith that the investigation will be carried out with honesty and fairness.

Our primary goal is to ensure that due process is followed and appropriate actions are taken in all cases, as each situation demands. We kindly request everyone’s cooperation in helping us locate Sudiksha and reunite her with her family.

Riibe said in his interview with Dominican authorities viewed by TopMob News that his friend, Konanki and her five friends had gotten shots at the bar before heading to the beach, where he and Konanki, 20, were “talking and kissing a little” in “waist-deep water.”

They remembered a huge wave striking them and dragging them along with the flow, and upon resurfacing, the duo attempted to seek aid, but found themselves alone.

“When I finally reached the ground on the beach, I pulled her in front of me,” Riibe, who said he swam them both to the shore, told investigators. “She went to gather her belongings since the sea had moved us. She wasn’t out of the water, as it was up to our knees.”

“She was walking at an angle in the water,” he added. “The last time I saw her, I asked if she was OK. I didn’t hear her answer because I started vomiting all the seawater I’d swallowed.”

Riibe said he ultimately fell asleep on a nearby beach chair and believed Konanki returned to her hotel room. “My friend asked me if I knew where the girl was,” he said. “I told him I thought she had gone to her room, and he told me she never returned.”

While a body hasn’t been recovered, three Dominican officials close to the investigation told ABC News they believe Konanki died by drowning. However, Loudon County Sheriff Mike Chapman emphasized that it is “way too premature” to make that conclusion.

“There has been no sighting of her in any capacity here,” he explained on NewsNation’s Banfield March 10. “So, it’s very important that we go through all this like we do some detailed investigation. We are working closely with Dominican authorities.”

Read on to learn more about Konanki’s disappearance.

Sudiksha Konanki traveled to the Dominican Republic on March 3.

A twenty-year-old, accompanied by five companions, was traveling to the Dominican Republic to mark the University of Pittsburgh’s spring vacation festivities.

Konanki had been staying at the Hotel Riu Palace Punta Cana, an all-inclusive resort.

Following her disappearance, the hotel told NBC News, “We have been working closely with the local authorities, including the police and the navy, to conduct a thorough search. We would like to express our deepest sympathy to the family and friends during this incredibly difficult time … we are fully committed to doing everything in our power to assist in this situation.”

Konanki was reported missing on March 6 after her friends returned from a beach walk without her. It is believed to have disappeared between the hours of 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. that morning.

Following her disappearance, local officials began an investigation. Local civil defense confirmed it had begun searches on land and by sea, while a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Officy in Loudoun County in Virigina—where Konanki was from—told NBC News investigations included obtaining video, going through cellphone evidence and talking to people who were with Konanki.

On March 9, officials told ABC News they believe Konanki died by drowning.

According to a police report, cited by ABC News, during the walk on the beach, most of the group decided to go back to the hotel at some point during the night while one friend remained with Konanki. The pair reportedly decided to go for a swim, and the police report notes the pair were caught by a big wave.

Officials reportedly said the friends who had been with Konanki were questioned by police but had not been charged with anything.

Following Konanki’s disappearance, her father Subbarayudu Konanki told CNN his daughter had been traveling before beginning pre-med studies.

He remarked, “My child is truly admirable. She’s not just kind-hearted but also highly driven. Her dream is to build a career in the field of medicine.

2025-03-17 18:39

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