Authorities have identified Joshua Riibe as a person of interest in the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old Indian student, last seen on March 6 in the Dominican Republic. Law enforcement is investigating the case in cooperation with U.S. agencies, while Konanki’s family calls for a broader inquiry into potential abduction. Surveillance footage is being reviewed to understand the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
United States authorities have designated a 24-year-old man, Joshua Riibe, as a person of interest in the case concerning Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old Indian student who disappeared during a spring break visit to the Dominican Republic. Konanki, who holds both Indian citizenship and U.S. permanent residency, was last seen on March 6 at the Riu Republic Resort in Punta Cana. U.S. federal law enforcement agencies are collaborating with Dominican authorities to investigate her mysterious disappearance.
According to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, Riibe was spotted with Konanki at the resort shortly before she went missing. Although Konanki’s father has requested an expansion of the investigation’s scope, spokesperson Chad Quinn emphasized that the inquiry is not classified as a criminal investigation, and therefore, Riibe is not a suspect. Quinn noted, “This particular individual may have been the last one to have seen her, so he is of particular interest.”
Sudiksha Konanki, a student at the University of Pittsburgh, was on vacation with five fellow college friends when she went missing. Surveillance footage captured Konanki and a group of friends departing the beach area at approximately 6 a.m. on March 6, with evidence indicating that she remained behind with Riibe, who subsequently left the beach alone hours later without her.
Riibe, who is originally from Rock Rapids, Iowa and currently enrolled at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota since 2023, was not part of the traveling group with Konanki. Family members of Konanki reside in the Washington, D.C. area, and the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the FBI and local law enforcement, is participating in the investigation. Quinn mentioned that “a number of people have been interviewed by the Dominican National Police with assistance from the FBI.”
Subbarayudu Konanki, Sudiksha’s father, expressed his concerns over assumptions that his daughter drowned, urging authorities to explore other possibilities, such as kidnapping or abduction. The investigation complaint indicated that her personal items—including her phone and wallet—were left with friends, which is atypical behavior for her. The Dominican Republic National Police announced plans to work alongside various U.S. agencies to form a “high-level commission” that will oversee the investigation, including reinterviewing individuals who were close to Konanki at the time of her disappearance.
In summary, Sudiksha Konanki’s mysterious disappearance has drawn significant attention as U.S. authorities investigate her case, focusing on Joshua Riibe as a person of interest. The ongoing collaboration between U.S. and Dominican authorities highlights the seriousness of the situation. As the investigation unfolds, concerns regarding her safety have prompted family members to urge law enforcement to consider all possibilities beyond the assumption of drowning.
Original Source: www.business-standard.com
