The disappearance of 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student, Sudiksha Konanki, from a five-star resort in the Dominican Republic has sparked an intense search effort. Konanki was last seen entering the beach early Thursday morning at the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana. Police are currently investigating a male friend who was with her at the time, as he was in the water at the same beach and provided conflicting versions of events to the authorities. Konanki, a legal permanent U.S. resident from Virginia, was on a spring break trip with five female classmates when she vanished on March 6.
Dominican news outlets reported that the last person to see Konanki alive was Joshua Steven Ribe, a 24-year-old tourist from Iowa who was also a guest at the resort. Ribe told police various versions of what happened, including entering the water with Konanki before feeling sick and leaving her in knee-deep water, and seeing her walking on the beach before falling asleep himself. Konanki’s clothes were found on the beach, but her whereabouts remain unknown. Law enforcement sources have suggested that she may have drowned, though this has not been confirmed. As the search for Konanki continues, INTERPOL has been asked to assist, and a Yellow Notice has been issued by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia for missing persons.
Konanki is described as 5 feet, 3 inches tall with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a brown bikini, hoop earrings, bracelets, and an anklet. The investigation into her disappearance is ongoing, with authorities working to piece together what happened that night at the resort. The involvement of the male friend who was with Konanki at the time is of particular interest, given his contradictory statements to the police. The search for Konanki is a top priority for law enforcement, who are determined to locate her and bring her home safely to her family and friends.
The mysterious circumstances surrounding Konanki’s disappearance have raised concerns among those following the case. The fact that she was last seen entering the beach with a male friend who has provided conflicting accounts of the events has added a layer of complexity to the investigation. The discovery of Konanki’s clothes on the beach has only deepened the mystery, with no clear indication as to what may have happened to her after she entered the water. The search effort has been escalated, with law enforcement agencies working diligently to gather any information that may lead to finding Konanki.
The involvement of INTERPOL in the search for Konanki underscores the seriousness of the situation and the need for international cooperation in locating her. The issuance of a Yellow Notice for missing persons indicates the urgency with which authorities are treating Konanki’s disappearance. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on finding answers about what happened to Konanki that night at the resort. The search effort involves multiple agencies, including local police, national law enforcement, and international organizations, all working together to bring closure to the case and locate Konanki. The hope is that with the combined efforts of these agencies, Konanki will be found and reunited with her loved ones.
