Dominican authorities have intensified their investigation into the mysterious disappearance of American student Sudiksha Konanki, zeroing in on Joshua Riibe, the last person seen with her before she vanished. The case has taken a dramatic turn with officials seizing Riibe’s passport while conflicting accounts surface about what really happened that fateful morning.
At a glance:
- Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student, disappeared on March 6, 2025, while on a beach in the Dominican Republic
- Joshua Riibe, a Minnesota college senior, has been named a “person of interest” and had his passport confiscated
- Riibe claims they were swept out to sea by waves, and he helped bring her closer to shore
- Authorities found Konanki’s clothing on a beach chair near where she was last seen
- Riibe is under constant police escort and cannot leave the country, though no formal charges have been filed
Last Known Moments Together
Dominican authorities continue to piece together the mysterious circumstances surrounding the disappearance of 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student who vanished on March 6 while vacationing in Punta Cana. Surveillance footage captured Konanki and Minnesota college senior Joshua Riibe walking arm-in-arm with friends toward the beach during early morning hours before her disappearance.
The group reportedly enjoyed a night out together, with Konanki’s friends leaving the beach around 5:50 am while she and Riibe stayed behind. According to investigators, Riibe is now under intense scrutiny as the last person known to have seen Konanki before she vanished without a trace.
Riibe’s Conflicting Accounts
During a nearly four-hour interview with detectives, Riibe recounted a harrowing tale of attempting to rescue Konanki from powerful waves.
“I was a lifesaver. I grabbed her and pulled her out,” he told authorities, according to a transcript obtained by Dominican Republic’s Noticas Sin.
Riibe claims he helped bring Konanki closer to shore but became violently ill from ingesting saltwater. “The last time I saw her, I asked her if she was OK,” Riibe said. “I didn’t hear her answer because I started vomiting all the sea water I had swallowed.”
The Iowa native and St. Cloud State University senior has reportedly given varying accounts of the morning’s events. In one statement, he claimed to have left Konanki in the water, while in another, he mentioned seeing her walking toward her belongings on the beach before he fell asleep.
Investigation Intensifies
Dominican authorities confiscated Riibe’s passport when he attempted to check out of his hotel, effectively preventing him from leaving the country. While officials have designated him as a “person of interest,” they have not formally named him as a suspect or filed charges against him.
The investigation took a significant turn when authorities discovered clothing believed to belong to Konanki on a lounge chair at the beach. The items reportedly match what witnesses last saw her wearing before her disappearance.
Riibe’s parents, Albert and Tina Riibe, have criticized the handling of the investigation, claiming their son has been “detained under irregular conditions and subjected to extensive questioning without the presence of official translators or legal counsel” until March 12. Despite maintaining his innocence and cooperation with authorities, Riibe remains under constant police escort at his hotel.
The search for Konanki continues as friends reported her missing at approximately 4 p.m. on March 6 after she failed to return to their accommodations.
