Pitt Student Sudiksha Konanki Missing in Dominican Republic: Latest Updates
Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student, went missing in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Joshua Riibe, the last person seen with her, is a person of interest and has had his passport confiscated. Riibe claims a wave swept them out to sea; he fell asleep afterward, finding her missing upon waking. Investigators are examining inconsistencies in his story.
Authorities have taken the passport of Joshua Steven Riibe, a person of interest in the disappearance of 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student last seen in the Dominican Republic over a week ago. Riibe, who is being monitored by police and cannot leave, was reportedly the last to see Konanki prior to her disappearance on March 6, during a spring break trip to Punta Cana.
Konanki, originally from India and residing in Ashburn, Virginia, was one of six students on vacation. Riibe claims that while they were on the beach, they were swept out by a wave. He maintains that he managed to bring them back to shore but later fell asleep, only to find Konanki missing upon waking.
No formal accusations have been made against Riibe, who stated, “I’m just trying to help them out,” adding, “The ocean is a dangerous place.” Meanwhile, two detectives from Loudon County, Virginia, are in the Dominican Republic investigating discrepancies in Riibe’s statements related to the incident, which may have arisen due to language barriers during initial interviews.
The ongoing investigation into Sudiksha Konanki’s disappearance is complex, involving international authorities. Klonaki’s family awaits answers while officials continue questioning Riibe, who, despite inconsistencies in his account, remains uncharged. The situation emphasizes the dangers present in unsupervised environments, particularly near ocean waters.
Original Source: patch.com
