Mystery Surrounds One Daughter’s Spring Break Disappearance

Family of missing American student Sudiksha Konanki asks Dominican Republic authorities to declare her legally dead, accepting the painful reality that their daughter likely drowned during a spring break trip to Punta Cana.

Quick Takes

Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student, has been missing for 11 days after disappearing from a beach in Punta Cana.
Her parents have formally requested she be declared legally dead, stating they no longer suspect foul play.
Joshua Riibe, the last person seen with Konanki, remains a person of interest but has not been charged with any crime.
Authorities believe Konanki drowned, with her clothes found on the beach, though her body has not been recovered.
Surveillance footage shows Konanki and Riibe together at the hotel bar and walking arm-in-arm before her disappearance.

Parents Seek Closure After Exhaustive Search

The parents of Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old student from the University of Pittsburgh, have taken the difficult step of requesting Dominican Republic authorities declare their daughter legally dead. After an extensive 11-day search following her March 7 disappearance from the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, the family has reached the painful conclusion that she likely drowned. This decision marks a significant shift from their initial suspicions of foul play to an acceptance of a tragic accident.

“Given these circumstances, and after much deliberation, we request that the police department proceed with the legal declaration of her death. We understand that certain legal procedures must be followed and are prepared to comply with any necessary formalities or documentation,” her parents wrote.

In a formal letter to authorities, the family expressed they no longer suspect foul play in their daughter’s disappearance. Dominican Republic National Police spokesperson Diego Pesqueira confirmed the family is “requesting a declaration of death.” Similarly, a Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson described the family as “seeking closure” after the traumatic ordeal. The declaration would allow the grieving process to begin and address legal matters related to her absence.

The Night of the Disappearance

Konanki was vacationing with six female classmates from the University of Pittsburgh when she vanished. Security camera footage captured her at 4:15 a.m. on the beach with a group before she stayed behind with one person, Joshua Riibe, whom she had met after arriving at the resort on March 3. Additional surveillance shows the pair together at the hotel bar and walking arm-in-arm before her disappearance.

Konanki’s clothes were found on the beach, supporting the drowning theory. Riibe told investigators they had both gone swimming when they were caught in rough waters. He claims he managed to pull Konanki out of the water before losing consciousness himself. When he regained consciousness, she was gone. Authorities have found no evidence contradicting his account, though the investigation continues.

Person of Interest Under Surveillance

Joshua Riibe remains a person of interest in the case, though he has not been formally charged with any crime. Dominican authorities have confiscated his passport and placed him under police surveillance, preventing him from leaving the country while the investigation continues. His attorneys have demanded his release from this restricted status, arguing that there is no legal basis for his continued detention.

“If he wants to leave the hotel, he cannot do that freely, but with police,” attorney Beatriz Santana told ABC News. “His passport is seized despite not being officially charged.”

Despite their personal grief, Konanki’s parents have expressed trust in the investigation process and believe Riibe is cooperating with authorities. A hearing regarding his detention status is expected soon. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is working alongside Dominican authorities in the ongoing investigation, though the family’s request for a death declaration suggests they are preparing for the most likely outcome in this tragic case.

The Konankis wrote: “Initiating this process will allow our family to begin the grieving process and address matters related to her absence. While no declaration can truly ease our grief, we trust that this step will bring some closure and enable us to honor her memory.”

Joshua Riibe was subsequently granted a writ of habeas corpus. His passport was restored by the Dominican Republic, and he was allowed to return home to the US.