A desperate search is underway for Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student who vanished without a trace while on vacation in the Dominican Republic. She was last seen in the early hours of March 6, and her sudden disappearance has raised urgent concerns, leading authorities to issue an Interpol Yellow Notice in hopes of locating her.
Konanki had traveled to Punta Cana with five college friends for spring break, arriving at a resort on March 3. According to security footage from the Riu República Hotel, she was last seen at around 4:15 a.m., walking toward the beach. Less than an hour later, a group of five women and a man were seen leaving—but Konanki was nowhere to be found.
Her friends searched for her but failed to locate her, prompting them to contact authorities. Later that day, her father, Subbarayudu Konanki, officially reported her missing.
Konanki’s father has since voiced deep concerns over what could have happened to his daughter. He and family friend Ramprakash Krishnamanaidu have urged authorities to investigate all possibilities, including kidnapping or foul play.
“It’s been days, and if she were in the water, she would have likely washed up by now,” her father told reporters. “The fact that she’s still missing makes us believe there could be something else going on.”
Authorities have since identified Joshua Steven Riibe, a man from Iowa, as a person of interest in the case. He was reportedly the last person seen with Konanki before she disappeared.
Riibe told police that the two of them had gone swimming that morning but were caught in a strong wave. He claimed that after making it back to shore, he vomited, passed out from intoxication, and later woke up—realizing that Konanki was missing.
Security footage reportedly shows Riibe returning to his hotel room alone at 8:55 a.m. Authorities are now re-examining video surveillance and re-interviewing key individuals who may have additional information.
With Interpol stepping in and the case now classified as an international missing persons alert, authorities are working with the U.S. Department of State, the FBI, the DEA, Homeland Security, and the Dominican National Police to track down what happened to Konanki. Two detectives from Loudoun County, Virginia have also flown to the Dominican Republic to assist in the investigation.
Officials say they are treating the case with high urgency and are not ruling out any possibilities, whether accidental or intentional.
Konanki’s family remains desperate for answers, hoping that authorities uncover the truth and bring their daughter home.