Witness Account Emerges in Disappearance of American College Student in Dominican Republic

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic – A pivotal witness has provided details regarding the disappearance of American college student Sudiksha Konanki, according to a translation of a police transcript. Joshua Riibe, a 24-year-old from Iowa, informed Dominican authorities that he and the 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student were swimming when a powerful wave swept them away.

Riibe underwent a nearly four-hour interrogation on Wednesday, during which he addressed over 50 questions related to Konanki’s mysterious disappearance on March 6. Dominican police regard Riibe as an essential witness, not a suspect in the evolving investigation.

During the interview, Riibe chose not to respond to eight specific questions, including those concerning his views on the incident and his delay in notifying hotel staff or authorities. Presently, police maintain that there are no suspects in the case, which they categorize as a missing person investigation.

Riibe recounted his initial encounter with Konanki that night at the RIU Republica resort, where both were vacationing for spring break.

Riibe’s legal representative, Beatriz Santana, has opted not to comment on the ongoing case or her client’s statements to the authorities. Meanwhile, Riibe’s family has released a statement expressing their distress, urging for privacy during this challenging time. They conveyed, “Our family is going through a very difficult time right now, and we’re experiencing a lot of sadness and pain. We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate this challenging moment together. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.”

Night of Disappearance Details Unfold

On the early morning of March 6, Konanki and Riibe made their way from a hotel bar to the beach adjoining the RIU Republica. Following her arrival in Punta Cana on March 3, Konanki was staying at the resort with five female friends. Riibe, who had arrived on March 1, described moments before the incident.

Riibe stated, “While we walked to the beach, she was giving me small kisses on the face.” The two entered the water while two of Konanki’s friends remained on the shore. They were engaged in conversation when a “big wave” struck, causing them to lose control.

At the time, a red-flag warning had been issued, cautioning beachgoers against swimming due to rough surf conditions.

Riibe described the moments that followed: “With the water’s pullback, it dragged us further into the sea. As soon as we surfaced, we tried to call for help, but no one was there.” Both individuals struggled as exhaustion began to set in.

“It was difficult,” he explained. “I was a lifeguard in a pool, not in the ocean. I was attempting to keep her breathing, which left me unable to breathe properly myself, and I swallowed a lot of water. There were moments when I could have lost consciousness. Once I reached the sand, I placed her in front of me as she went to gather her belongings which had been moved by the ocean.”

Riibe mentioned that the last time he saw Konanki, she was walking knee-deep in the water.

“I asked if she was okay, but I didn’t hear her response because I started vomiting the seawater I had swallowed,” he continued. “After vomiting, I looked around and didn’t see anyone. I initially thought she had picked up her belongings and left. Feeling exhausted, I lay down on a beach chair and fell asleep, waking later due to sun exposure and mosquito bites. I then went to my friend’s room to retrieve my phone before heading back to my own room to sleep.”

Hopeful Yet Concerned

Despite the distressing events, Riibe had anticipated encountering Konanki the following day. He assumed they would cross paths around the resort area.

It wasn’t until the next day that Riibe realized her absence, when a friend inquired if he had seen Konanki, to which he responded negatively.

Riibe explained, “I believed she had returned to her room. Her friends sent a message to my friend since he had one of their numbers.” On the following day, Riibe’s friends discovered his belongings on the beach, which he had neglected to pick up, aside from a pair of shoes and a room key that he alleged had been stolen.

Throughout his testimony, Riibe admitted to consuming alcohol, stating he had been drinking vodka mixed with 7Up and taking tequila shots. He noted that the group of women he was with had ordered “pink tequila shots” to enjoy together.

He exercised his right to remain silent in response to crucial questions, such as:

• How can we verify that everything you have said is true?
• What did you tell your friend when he asked about the missing girl, Konanki-Sudiksha?
• What do you think about Sudiksha’s disappearance?
• Did Sudiksha know how to swim or not?
• Do you remember if Sudiksha made any gestures or screamed while in the sea?
• Did you inform the authorities or the hotel about what occurred between you and the girl on the beach?
• Did you communicate with your friend about the incident involving you and the girl on the beach?
• How do you feel about this situation?

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, which oversees Konanki’s hometown, has clarified that Riibe is not a suspect in any criminal investigation. They emphasized that this ongoing inquiry remains solely a missing person investigation, making him a person of interest for the agency.

The LCSO confirmed that they had communicated with Riibe on Thursday. A spokesperson explained, “Detectives from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office conducted an extensive interview with Mr. Joshua Riibe. His father and attorney accompanied him, and he was cooperative. The search and investigation by the Dominican National Police are continuing. The LCSO does not plan to provide any additional updates today.”

A Cautionary Tale

In January, four tourists lost their lives due to drowning near Punta Cana while a red flag was displayed, warning tourists about strong currents and treacherous seas.

As authorities continue to investigate, Konanki was captured on hotel surveillance footage walking towards the beach at around 4:15 a.m. on March 6, accompanied by a group which included seven individuals—five females and two males. Surveillance later revealed a group of six, comprising five women and one man, returning to the hotel from the beach around 5:55 a.m.

The young man previously seen with Konanki was seen entering the hotel at approximately 9 a.m. on March 6.

Investigators are urging anyone with information regarding Konanki’s case to reach out to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office at 703-777-1021. For anonymous tips, interested parties can contact Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919.