Source: CBC
Dominican Republic | March 2025 – The search for 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki, an Indian-origin student from the University of Pittsburgh, has intensified as new details emerge from the last known witness. Sudiksha Konanki mysteriously vanished five days ago while on a trip to the Dominican Republic, and conflicting statements from a fellow tourist have added to the growing uncertainty surrounding her disappearance.
Conflicting Accounts from Last Witness Raise Suspicion
Joshua Steven Ribe, a 24-year-old tourist from Iowa, was reportedly the last person to have interacted with Konanki before she went missing. However, his multiple, contradictory statements have raised eyebrows and prompted authorities to investigate further.
Initially, Ribe claimed that after a night of partying, he and Konanki went to the beach, where he started vomiting due to rough waters. He allegedly returned to shore and checked on her before she vanished. In a second version, he stated he felt sick, left the water, and last saw Konanki standing in knee-deep waves before he passed out. In yet another account, he said he saw her walking along the shoreline before falling asleep, only to wake up and realize she was gone.
Timeline of Sudiksha Konanki’s Disappearance
According to reports, Konanki was last seen around 5:50 a.m. by a friend at the beach. CCTV footage captured her at the resort’s discotheque at 3:00 a.m., before she made her way toward the beach. She remained there until just before sunrise, after which she mysteriously disappeared.
Authorities Release Missing Poster
Local authorities have launched an urgent search operation and released a missing persons poster with details of Konanki’s last known appearance. She was last seen wearing a brown bikini, large round earrings, yellow and steel bracelets on her right arm, a multicolored beaded bracelet on her left arm, and a metal anklet on her right leg.
The poster urges the public: “We need your help to get the word out! If you are in the area or have any information regarding Sudiksha Konanki’s whereabouts, please contact authorities immediately.”
University of Pittsburgh Responds
The University of Pittsburgh has expressed deep concern over the disappearance of their student and issued an official statement: “University officials are in direct contact with Sudiksha Konanki’s family, as well as authorities in Loudoun County, Virginia. We are offering our full support to bring her home safely.”
Who is Sudiksha Konanki?
Konanki, a student at the University of Pittsburgh’s Class of 2026, previously attended Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia. Her father described her as a determined young woman with aspirations of becoming a doctor. According to her friends, she had planned to attend a party at the resort on Wednesday night. She later went to the beach with friends and acquaintances, but while others returned, she did not. Authorities were alerted, and search efforts continue.
Ongoing Investigation
With mounting pressure and growing public interest, authorities in the Dominican Republic are ramping up their search efforts. As the mystery surrounding Sudiksha Konanki’s disappearance deepens, investigators are working tirelessly to piece together the truth.
For real-time updates on this developing story, stay tuned. If you have any information that could aid the investigation, contact local authorities immediately.