Sudiksha Konanki, 20, was reported missing in Punta Cana. Credit: Facebook

The 20-year-old pre-med student – an Indian national from Virginia – vanished from the Riu República Hotel & Resort in Punta Cana in the early hours of March 6 while on a spring break trip with friends.

While initial reports stated that the primary theory behind the student’s disappearance was that she had drowned, the investigation has since evolved to explore all possible scenarios, including foul play.

“We are using all our resources to thoroughly investigate the disappearance of Konanki Sudiksha Chowdary, and we understand the anguish this case causes to her family, Dominicans, and Americans,” Dominican Republic Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso said in a statement.

“As with any disappearance occurring under the circumstances of the case at hand, we are applying a holistic investigation protocol that examines all variables,” she added.

Last Known Moments and Conflicting Accounts

Konanki arrived in the Dominican Republic on March 3.

On the morning of her disappearance, surveillance footage from the Riu República Hotel captured Konanki and her friends drinking in the hotel lobby before heading to the beach at around 4:15AM with two men.

By 4:55AM, her five female friends and one of the men returned to the hotel, leaving Konanki alone with the second man — identified as Joshua Riibe, a 24-year-old tourist from Iowa.

Riibe, who has been named a person of interest but not a suspect, was last seen on camera leaving the beach just before 9:00AM — several hours after Konanki was last seen.

Adding to the uncertainty, Riibe allegedly provided authorities with conflicting versions of events from that night, The New York Post reports.

Despite the inconsistencies, Riibe has cooperated fully with authorities, according to law enforcement. His aunt, Theresa Riibe, told the Daily Mail that she believed her nephew, who wrestled and played football in high school, “wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

The 20-year-old was on a Spring Break vacation with five friends. Credit: Facebook

His neighbor, Laurel Schreiver, echoed this sentiment, telling the outlet: “I bet my life on it, Josh did not hurt that girl.”

“I’ve known Josh since he was a young boy. There is no way he would harm her or have anything to do with her disappearance,” she continued.

Schreiver went on to describe Riibe as “a super good kid” and a “friendly and good student.”

“If he was drunk as I’ve read, that was not the smartest thing to do, but he’s in college on spring break,” Schreiver said, before once again stating: “There is no way he would have hurt the girl.”

The Post adds that Riibe – a former high school wrestler and senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota – has a girlfriend, according to a statement his uncle Richard gave to the Daily Mail.

Surveillance footage from the early hours of March 6 captures Sudiksha Konanki walking along the beach with Riibe at around 4:15AM. At one point, the two are seen holding hands while her college friends — also on spring break — walk nearby.

According to the Dominican Republic National Police, Konanki and her friends headed to the beach after leaving a disco, reportedly due to a power outage at the Riu Republica Hotel, where they were staying.

Meanwhile, spokesperson for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Chad Quinn confirmed in an email to The Post that Riibe is considered a person of interest but cautioned against speculation, and emphasized that no conclusions should be drawn prematurely.

Power Outage Dispute and New Witnesses

One of the theories that emerged early in the case was that a power outage at the hotel forced Konanki and her friends onto the beach, where she eventually disappeared.

However, the Riu Hotel & Resort has denied this claim, stating that the outage occurred between March 4 and early March 5, and that power was fully restored by 2:15AM on March 6 — more than two hours after Konanki went missing.

Credit: Defensa Civil La Altagracia

Meanwhile, investigators are now searching for additional witnesses.

According to new video evidence cited by CNN, more people were present on the beach at the time Konanki disappeared, and authorities are working to identify them.

Rough Seas and Search Efforts

Local officials have noted that sea conditions were dangerous on the night of March 6, with strong waves that could have made swimming perilous.

“The body may be stranded on the reefs, on the coral reefs,” said Agustín Morillo Rodríguez, vice admiral of the Dominican Republic navy, explaining why no remains have been found. “The navy has deployed a team of navy and local divers to comb the entire area where there are reefs or corals.

“So far, unfortunately, we have not been able to find the young woman.”

Authorities are exploring “all variables”. Credit: X

The FBI and the US Department of Homeland Security (HSI) are assisting Dominican officials in the search, alongside more than 300 law enforcement personnel.

Additionally, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, where Konanki’s family lives, has requested that Interpol issue a “yellow notice” — an international missing persons alert. Sheriff Michael Chapman has met with Riibe’s father to discuss developments in the case.

Family Pleads for More Investigation

Konanki’s parents, Subbarayudu and Sreedevi Konanki, have publicly urged authorities to not rule out the possibility of foul play.

In a formal request, her father noted that his daughter’s belongings—including her phone and wallet—were left with her friends. “That is unusual because she always carried her phone with her,” he told AP.

He also told CNN that he wants local authorities to investigate the possibility of kidnapping or human trafficking, rather than assuming she drowned.

Authorities Promise a Thorough Investigation

The Public Prosecutor’s Office in the Dominican Republic issued a statement emphasizing that they are considering all possibilities.

The Public Prosecutors Office told VT in a statement: “The Attorney General appreciates the support of the FBI and HSI in response to a request for collaboration from local authorities.

“The Public Prosecutor’s Office appreciated this Wednesday the cooperation provided by the United States, through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in the extensive investigation it is conducting as part of the highest-level joint task force investigating the disappearance of student Sudiksha Konanki.

“The prosecution, which is conducting multiple investigative steps that extend beyond a possible accidental event, is keeping the course of the proceedings confidential, in accordance with Dominican procedural regulations for this stage.”

Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso reaffirmed her commitment to finding answers, stating: “We are utilizing all our resources to thoroughly investigate the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki, and we understand the distress this case causes her family, Dominican citizens, and Americans.

“The young woman’s family, as well as Dominican and American society, must be absolutely certain that we will continue to investigate until we have the answer that we, the authorities, are duty-bound to guarantee.”

The Search Continues

As authorities intensify their efforts, Konanki remains missing, with no confirmed evidence of what happened after she was last seen on the beach. The investigation continues, as her loved ones hope for answers.