Ongoing Search for Missing Indian Student Raises Concerns Over Kidnapping
Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old student from the University of Pittsburgh, went missing from a Dominican beach where Joshua Ribe, the last known person to see her, provided conflicting accounts of her disappearance. The search efforts are ongoing, but authorities believe she may have drowned or been kidnapped, prompting her family to request further investigations. International agencies have joined the case as concerns grow over her safety.
Joshua Steven Ribe, a tourist from Iowa, was the last person to see Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student who disappeared from a beach in the Dominican Republic. Ribe, who confessed to being intoxicated, stated that she was missing when he woke up. The search for Konanki has intensified as fears of a possible kidnapping grow.
Konanki was vacationing with friends at the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana. Surveillance footage indicated that the group was at a resort dance party until around 3 a.m. and went to the beach at approximately 4 a.m. Her friends left her with Ribe around 5:50 a.m., marking him as the last known individual to see her.
Ribe has provided three conflicting accounts of the events that followed: he stated he either vomited and then passed out, last saw Konanki in knee-deep water before losing consciousness, or he observed her walking along the beach before he fell asleep. Despite these inconsistencies, the police have not categorized him as a suspect.
Konanki’s friends reported her missing nearly 12 hours later. Current search efforts include drones, helicopters, and scuba divers, although estimates of finding her alive have dwindled. Authorities suspect she may have drowned; her clothes were discovered on a beach lounge chair, while her family is advocating for further investigations into potential kidnapping scenarios.
Family members expressed concern that Konanki’s phone and wallet were left behind, given her habit of carrying her phone. They urged authorities to explore multiple possibilities. Juan Salas from the Civil Defence stated that the odds of finding her alive are minimal and that investigations include interviewing friends and checking nearby surveillance. International agencies, such as the FBI and DEA, are also contributing to the case.
The case of Sudiksha Konanki raises significant concerns as the search for her continues without resolution. Conflicting statements from the last known witness, Joshua Ribe, combined with the family’s worries about potential kidnapping, emphasize the complexities of the investigation. As search efforts broaden and international agencies get involved, the hope for a positive outcome dwindles amidst fears that she may have drowned or been abducted.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
